[Doug Odgers]

At last  A90 is afloat after 4 years.

Now the learning begins :  the nut and sealing rubber on one of the pivot bolts  is leaking, to such an extent that I have bought an automatic bilge pump (I am fitting it  this Tuesday ).

I have a suspicion that the bolt is not engaging with the ‘stopper’  flat that stops the bolt continuing to turn when tightening the nut onto the rubber seal. (Don’t  really want to correct this until the boat is craned out in the autumn).

Can I :

–  take the nut and seal out whilst still afloat ?

– put in a new rubber seal.

– use a different grease?  (Currently bog standard marine grease).

– use a combination of oakum and grease?

. . .  all help gratefully received!

Doug

01929 792368

 

[Nick Phillips]

Doug

From your text it is one of the two pivot, rather than the four clamping, bolts which is the problem?

How old are the seals – they deteriorate with age. I could send you a single replacement that I have in the garage if you want? (Not a set).  I don’t think grease / oakum would help but a new seal should.

You should be able to remove the nut and seal when afloat with only a small amount of water ingress. However if the bolt is out of place due to mating with the ‘stopper’ on the plates, it might leak more.

N

[Doug Odgers]

Nick, thank you so much for your reply and offer of new seals. I am okay, a quantity of new seals came with the boat.

I think the seal in place is a new one. I went onboard today after 6 days absence and the bilge pump seems to be managing the water intake. So it now looks as if I can keep her afloat and use he until she comes out in the autumn.

Then I’ll  have the bolt plates out to see if the ‘doublers’ are letting the pivot bolt ‘pass by’  .

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