Posted by Alan Kusinitz (akusinitz@…>)
Note we’re trying to encourage
people to move to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FreedomOwnersGroup/
where we can limit spam and have better control regarding archiving and
organizing things.
At one point I had some weeping from one
of the bolts on my F-33. It happened towards the end of the sailing season up
here in New England. I had the yard take a
look at it (the guy who looked at has had a lot of experience removing and
replacing and repairing keels including on wooden boats).
He said that its most likely just a little
seepage coming from inside the boat (any water running to the bilge to from the
chain locker or elsewhere) running underneath (there were one or two drilled
holes in the inside perhaps to allow air to escape when they tightened up the
bolts originally) and then seeping out around a keel bolt where the 5200 had a
gap.
The previous owner had added fiberglass at
the keel to hull joint because he had a problem on a previous boat before he
realized it wasn’t necessary. Since this is in good shape and no water
can penetrate this it confirms to me what the yard said. .
Over the winter I loosened the nut on the
keel bolt (wasn’t easy) and then rebedded and retightened. Mine did not
break off. I did notice that the hole for the keel bolt was large on one side
(like they had to grind it out widen it to get the bolt through) and there wasn’t
much bedding compound in that part.
I assume that lead is cast on the bolts so
there is no way to replace the broken one. I have read about drilling a new
whole and tapping for a new bolt but lead is soft so I don’t see how that
could be effective. Perhaps drilling, inserted a threaded rod with epoxy of
some sort? This is above my pay grade. J
To find out how they constructed the boat you
could try Eric Sponberg (I believe he was chief engineer at Freedom around when
ours were built) ewsponberg@…
. I’ve used him for some consulting regarding the masts and mast steps
pins.
I know a lot of people get information
from Paul Dennis as well.
Alan F-33 Hull #51 1982
From: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com [mailto:freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Frank
Sent: Monday, June 18, 2007 8:02
PM
To: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [freedomyachts2003]
REFIT, OR, , BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR
We had planned to do a major refit this year, and are working on it.
Getting into it fairly deep…
In cleaning up the bilge, I found a weeping keelbolt. It took very
very little torque to shear it off.
Does anyone have any experience with Freedom keels and keelbolts?
Or, if not, do you kow someone who might know how they bolted it.
(1981 F 33 )
I will write a lil report on this when it is done.
Frank
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