You can take the forward nut off the keel bolt, or any ONE nut for that matter, and the keel isn't coming off. The issue is that doing it in the water can cause water ingress, which may screw up your epoxy plans. I would also put a hose around the bolt or similar to keep from epoxying the threads.
Joe Della Barba Coquina C&C 35 MK I Kent Island MD USA -----Original Message----- From: Neil Gallagher via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Sent: Sunday, October 30, 2022 5:35 PM To: steven.hickel--- via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Cc: Neil Gallagher <njgallag...@optonline.net> Subject: Stus-List Re: Blocks under forward most keel bolt material? Steven, Pretty sure you don't risk having the keel fall off without the forward bolt, as I said I have plans that show only the six larger bolts. I'll try to get a scan of the large print to put on a Google drive. Appears to me an after the fact addition to address the smile. My mast step had about a 3" bow in the center when I went at it, if I tightened the shrouds it just bowed some more. I didn't have any choice but to do something with, really. I used 1/2" and 3/4" fiberglass board for the vertical suppots, for instance: https://www.mcmaster.com/fiberglass-boards/structural-frp-fiberglass-sheets- bars-and-strips/thickness~1-2/length~24/width~24-1/ Bit of a PITA to work with, found the best way to cut it is with a jig saw using diamond grit masonry blades, but it beats laying up boards. And actually I used a piece of the the above board under the layup of the mast step, at the bottom it was narrow enough to fit one piece in that spans the sump, then layed up the cloth/resin on top of it. Believe it or not, I used 27 layers in a single layup, just to get the height, was quite a trick in 85deg summer heat. I'm sure you could use fewer layers. And yes, each layer landed on the side of the hull adjacent to the span over the sump, just a small tab. I think you could cut that little strip of fiberglass over the bolt, it's not structural, just holds up the covering boards. Not sure I follow you about dropping the sole, do you mean in way of the step and keel bolt? And I'll contact you off list, be interested seeing the boat if possible. Neil Gallagher Weatherly, 35-1 Glen Cove, NY
