keel bolts sticking out

[ticomic]

I have a 30-foot, flat-bottomed work/lobster type boat, fiberglass over plywood. The keel goes from zero, to 24 inches , with a 1/2in thick steel plate stickig out beyond the prop and rudder shaft. It is held by two sets of 3/4in bolts, 3 feet apart, going up through the floor.These bolts were not fully recessed,and cause a 3/4in bump in the fibreglass,so when the boat beaches at low tide,the fibreglass breaks and water seeps up ever so slowly, but all season. My idea would be to fill in the gap between the pairs of bolts with fiberglass, then make a steel channel to fit over the last 4 feet of keel, and cover it with thick fiberglass also to make it hold. Maybe drilling holes in it would help the glass hold better? Has anyone encountered this type of problem before? I can't just grind the tips off.Wish I could. Thanks .

[Bob Cleek]

That certainly seems like it would solve the problem. Shows yer thinkin!.

[Mrleft8]

Or you could remove the bolts, drill a deeper counter bore, and replace the bolts, and re-glass.

[ticomic]

Thanks for the opinions. Got some unexpected good news. Closing post.