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Old 09-16-2011, 12:35 AM
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ndutton ndutton is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by domenic View Post
Neil, when you pulled your keel bolts, what shape were they in?
I haven't pulled my bolts.
What I have done is chisel off the old ferrous nuts to examine the threads underneath. The threads above the nuts were/are rusted to the point of being untrustworthy. To my great surprise, the threads under the nuts were pristine like the day they were new. I replaced the nuts with stainless (I know, dissimilar metals) for the time being. I rationalized the dissimilar metals issue by keeping my bilge bone dry. That is, no presence of an electrolyte.

There is a plan afoot to sister up the existing steel bolts with stainless lags and transfer the loads off the keel stump (for reasons unique to the Catalina 30) up to the hull at the turn of the bilge. I've done the engineering calculations and also had them done independently by a professional engineer. Our figures were within 1% including a 3:1 safety factor. The required custom stainless castings are currently on hold waiting for the next planned haul out.

Hope this addresses your question. Apologies to anyone else bored to tears.
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Neil
1977 Catalina 30
San Pedro, California
prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22
Had my hands in a few others
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