J24 Keel bolt frozen

PJF

New Member
I recently purchased a 1981 J24 at auction (cheap). Small cracks in the paint around the aft section of the keel and separation of the filler from the inside sump wall around the aft two bolts likely mean I have to remove the filler and redo the sump around the aft two bolts? The aft two nuts were not tightened down to the filler which is likely why the paint was cracking as the keel moved. I ran a die over the aft two bolts to remove whatever resin/gunk was there, but the aft keel bolt nuts won't move. Is using an impact wrench ok to remove one bolt at a time? I am letting the penetrating oil soak as I write. I would ask waterline systems, but the are out of business. thanks!
 
I recently purchased a 1981 J24 at auction (cheap). Small cracks in the paint around the aft section of the keel and separation of the filler from the inside sump wall around the aft two bolts likely mean I have to remove the filler and redo the sump around the aft two bolts? The aft two nuts were not tightened down to the filler which is likely why the paint was cracking as the keel moved. I ran a die over the aft two bolts to remove whatever resin/gunk was there, but the aft keel bolt nuts won't move. Is using an impact wrench ok to remove one bolt at a time? I am letting the penetrating oil soak as I write. I would ask waterline systems, but the are out of business. thanks!

Hope you got them loose by now. Be especially careful if the boat comes from a salt water environment. Keel bolts are subject to crevice corrosion, especially those kept and used around salt water. Once you get them off, there is an article I wrote years back for the class magazine that explains the preferred (approved) method of replacing the filler in the aft sump. I own and race 3735 and am currently restoring a 1980 boat. Contact: Tim Winger <[email protected]> for the article or any advice on restoration.
 

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