Iron Keel Bolt Replacement

[j hatch]

I have a 30' Stadel Schooner built in 1952 in Marblehead, Mass by Floyd Soule. The fasteners are gone. The heads of the keel bolts look great as do the floor timbers, I am sure the story is worst below, I don't know if the bolts are poured in or driven thru, The rest of the fastenings are iron so I'm sure these are. What is my best plan of action to replace these bolts? Xray first? what should an Xray cost? I am replacing all other fastners with S/Bronze should the keel bolts be the same? If so where do I get 1" Rod? Help please.

[Bob Cleek]

If she was iron fastened in '52, don't expect much more of the rest of her construction. She was likely "workboat built" and only loving care and good craftsmanship have kept her going so far. If you have IRON keel bolts, you have an iron keel. This is almost dead certain, given the iron fastenings. They wouldn't have sprung for the higher priced lead. The bolts will not be cast in place, of course, in an iron keel. They are driven through cored holes in the casting. Unfortunately, they are a royal bugger to remove. Drive and cut, drive and cut, drive and cut. Forget x-rays. It is cheaper to drive out a bolt or two and check them and you may well get zip on the film, since you're dealing with iron in iron. DO NOT replace the original iron bolts with bronze. Electrolysis will destroy the bronze pronto. I'd urge you to find a good yard, or somebody who knows what they are doing and has done it before to give you a hand. There are many problems than can be encountered replacing keel bolts and a million tricks of the trade that make spending a few bucks to do it right a very worthwhile investment.

[Ed Harrow]

Talk to Paul Haley at Giffy Full & Assoc (surveyor) and/or Thad at Redd's Pond. Both can steer you in the correct direction.

[mike kelly]

I have the same problem on my 59 h-28. I've managed to replace a couple already.they don't come out very easlily but heres how I did mine. remove the nut in the bilge.(sound simply when you type it doesn't it) If it actuly resembles a nut use a small drill bit (1/8th or so)to drill down between the nut and bolt a buch of times to remove some of the threads and spray some stuff on it.should come off without much trouble. ON the bottom there should be a wood plug,beat that outta there to get to the other side of the bolt.If there's a nut there try to take it off. Next weld two nuts together Thread the welded double nut on to the keel bolt half way.(if this isn't possable you could weld a nut to the keel bolt) Get a piece of I beam aboat 16" or so, drill a hole in the middle.get a 12" bolt and attach the bolt and I-beam to the double nut.place two hydrulic jacks between the beam and the keel and jack the bolt out.
This may or may not be feasible it all depends on what you have.I was luckly i had nuts on the bottom that came off.I have to say i agree with Bob though experience could go a long way here. good luck

[Thad]

Floyd actually stopped by my shop last week but I didn't ask him about his old boat. The boat itself probably will tell you all you need to know (50 years old, it is time to replace all the iron fasteners including those bolts -- and because of the iron more than a little wood). But, we might be able to catch up with Floyd again and ask any questions you would like to ask. Where are you, and the boat, by the way?

[Rich VanValkenburg]

I'm a little late on this, (been out staring at Lake Huron for a week), But I used a shaft puller to whack out my bolts from above. The shaft puller already has a double nut to attach to the top of the bolt. It gets them out, but puts your biceps under a workout. I didn't have room for two hydraulic jacks.

[Ed Harrow]

Luckily, this is one problem I don't have! Dick did the job using a Sawzall between ballast and keel. I think it might be interesting to hook an arc welder to each end of a bolt and warm it up a bit. Seems like it might help to break the bond. (Course it might save a call to Doc (Now he's been quiet lately) but be certain to have the marshmellows handy.)

[Jeff Kelety]

<What is my best plan of action to replace these bolts? >

We used a SMALL hand-held jack-hammer to pound out the more difficult bolts.

jgk