The keels, keel brackets and clamping plates all looked in excellent condition but I wanted to get them out to check. I got the boat in the air and prepared to remove the first of the bolt-covers and discovered that they were glued in place. The person who had last had them off had used sikaflex to put them back. They were STUCK! Well and truly STUCK! Using a chisel I tried to remove the first one and made a bit of a mess. So I stopped for a rethink. The season was beckoning and the basis of the bolt I did get out, which was in good condition, I decided to go sailing and address the bolts another time. When I do get round to this I don’t think I will remove the stuck on covers but perhaps drill new holes with retaining plates. To be continued …….
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A124 Keel steelwork in good condition. Note the hex-nuts welded to the ends of the clamping fittings. This allows use of a ratchet spanned – very quick!
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A124 2017 06 A124 Keels 02
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A124 The keelboxes aren’t too bad
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A124 The bolt was worn but not terminally so.
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A124 Clamping plates are in reasonable condition beneath all the antifouling.
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A124 Wood from the keelbox can be seen stuck in the sikaflex. Butyl Rubber is the way to go.
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A124 Some making good to be done! Someone used sikaflex to stick the hatches on. NOOOO! Its more of a glue than is required as can be seen from the missing layers from the plywood.