These responses are super helpful! Four years in, we remain novices, which makes it hard to even know the questions to ask. No matter the approach we take, it is clear that replacing the washers and adding backing plates is part of the project. I was a little perplexed by the aft keel bolt washers and unsuccessfully poked around the internet for a while trying to figure out if that was normal or something done by a previous owner.
We did have a soft grounding in mud on the side of a channel while motoring back to our marina this fall (in full view of everyone, including incoming flights to DCA, of course). We were going pretty slow and ended up drifting/sliding off, but physics is tricky, so I have no idea what was going on down there. About a week later we had the boat hauled and transported by trailer to her new home about an hour away. Maybe that loosened things up? Luckily we now have better access to boatyards. We've had folk from two take a look at the keel while the boat was in slings (our new marina and another boatyard), but have not had a formal survey. While we got an estimate for the keel-drop/re-bedding, both suggested that the tightening/filling route is an option. There is also the "another boat" option to consider. It is greener, and just on the other side of the fence. So, my new question is, if we do have keel bolt degradation, bolt hole elongation (not entirely sure what this is, but it sounds dire), or structural damage to the sump, would we still expect wiggle after tightening? In other words, if we tighten the keel bolts and wiggle ceases, has the problem most likely been resolved? Thank you for the insights! > > *From:* Bill Coleman via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > *Sent:* Monday, January 03, 2022 12:35 PM > *To:* 'Stus-List' <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > *Cc:* Bill Coleman <colt...@gmail.com> > *Subject:* Stus-List Re: 25 MKII - Smiling? > > > > I have to agree with Dwight on the backing plates, ESPECIALLY the aft most > one, I think. It looks like they cut the edges off the stack of washers, so > the nut would fit in that tight space with a socket. I can see where the > washers rotated with the tightening, and are chewing into the fiberglass > big time. Maybe a 3/8” plate that just fits into that space, then either a > short piece of heavywall SS Pipe as a spacer and then a couple washers, or > take that stack of washers and orient them correctly, and compress them > with a bolt onto the backing plate, and have a welder fuse them together > with a TIG without getting it too hot. Just enough to keep them from > rotating. Then put in back in and tighten it up to specs. > > > > > > Bill Coleman > > Entrada, Erie, PA > > > > > On Sun, Jan 2, 2022 at 3:32 PM Stephen Kidd via CnC-List < > cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > > Happy New Year! We're hoping to get some insights on an issue we are > having with our keel. We recently had our 25 MKII hauled for some winter > projects and were surprised to see that the keel "wiggled" when the boat > was on the travel lift, a little bit laterally. > > > > I've uploaded some photos of the keel and the keel bolts > <https://photos.app.goo.gl/TVsmhMAwwJUQEEee8>. Here are some observations: > > 1) No signs of weeping from the keel joint and no visible separation when > lifted from the stands. > > 2) None of the keel bolts (3 in total) leak. > > 3) Crack at the aft end doesn't look typical of the C&C smile based on > internet searches. > > > > Should we torque the keel bolts, grind out the crack, fill (G-flex?), > fair, and paint, or is this beyond a "smile" fix? > > > > Thanks! > > Stephen > > >
Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
