Is this a keel problem?

[Icarus]

Originally Posted by argonauta1

Looks like keel has been cut into perhaps to fix/replace a keel bolt. The weld used to replace the cut out has been leaking into the bolt area. Check the top of the keel bolts accessible at the cabin bilge access just aft of the mast step. If the weld is reopened expect to find a mess. Best bet: walk away

Just remove the paint and check what's going on...take it from there.

[gordonhinds]

I had a better look. It looks like a repair that is still weeping rusty water. You would need to grind back the antifoul to see what is happening. Worth looking at in more detail.

[Searles]

Having fitted a few of the cast steel keels ,it looks to me as that is where the keel location knob which is also the bilge sump this is how the keel is positioned fore and aft ,inspect the keel bilge sump on the inside to see if there visible damage ,plus strongly tap with a mallet on that visible spot and look for cracking . Must be investigated .⚓️⛵️

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Searles

Having fitted a few of the cast steel keels ,it looks to me as that is where the keel location knob which is also the bilge sump this is how the keel is positioned fore and aft ,inspect the keel bilge sump on the inside to see if there visible damage ,plus strongly tap with a mallet on that visible spot and look for cracking . Must be investigated .⚓️⛵️

There is no location "knob" on this model and the keel is not cast "steel".

[Thomas1985]

I don’t think the boat is quite what we want, so I doubt I investigate further.

All the pictures look like it’s a well maintained boat. Price seems to imply it’s an above average example. Just never seen anything quite like that on the keel 🤷🏻*♂️

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Thomas1985

I don’t think the boat is quite what we want, so I doubt I investigate further.

All the pictures look like it’s a well maintained boat. Price seems to imply it’s an above average example. Just never seen anything quite like that on the keel 🤷🏻*♂️

Thousands of surveys and I've never seen it either.

[donradcliffe]

Originally Posted by mcswain29

What you're seeing is the bilge sump pocket/key in the side of the keel

Beneteaus of that era would have originally come with galvanized (or dacromatised as they were referred to) steel keel bolts

A good number of smaller Beneteaus of that era (French production boats from the mid-late 80s) originally had the icebox drain into the bilge, so naturally the keel bolt heads may look like a bit of a horror show at first glance - depending on how persnickity the previous owner(s) were about keeping a dry bilge

First correct answer, and it is nothing to worry about.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Thomas1985

I don’t think the boat is quite what we want, so I doubt I investigate further.

If you don't really want the boat, then it's not the right one for you. There is no shortage of boats about. Find something with that look back factor, in other words when you row away after a trip, you need to look back at your boat.

Pete

[Boatfreak]

Yes this is just the keel sump which is grp. It fits into a slot in the keel. The gap is just faired with filler. Not very well in this case. I expect the paint finish on the keel is compromised in the hidden area. If the keel bolts are good, I wouldn't worry. It allways suprises me how many surveyors are flumoxed by this. A friend attended the european survey of a recent Groupe Beneteau boat for his australian brother, and this came up and stumped the surveyor.

We had a 305 for seven years, a great little boat. There was rust on the keel when we bought her but i ground it out wherever it appeared and applied the six coats of International Keel paint as instructed and after three years there was never any more.

[bil56]

it is indeed a hull bottom sump which protrudes under the hull and is inserted into the keel

./.

[Island Time O25]

Any half decent autobody repairman will tell you that once having appeared the rust will never go away. So with boats one either learns to live with it or looks for lead keel boats only.

Where my boat is in the winter storage there are a number of iron keeled boats. Most if not all of them have some degree of rust on their keels. And all or most are gone in the summer, meaning they are none the worst for it. And back to the yard in the fall.

[Latitude1]

Originally Posted by Thomas1985

We are looking to buy a sailboat. Saw this in pictures of a potential boat. What is going on here?

Hi the problem is the bilge pump receptacle outside surface. It made of fiberglass. Easy to redo

[cgurjao]

NOT REALLY. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 34 YEAR OLD FAST395. I SMALL HOLE AT THE BOTTOM OF MY BILGE TANK WHERE IT MEETS THE KEEL. FIXED IT WITH RESIN AND FIBERGLASS AND REPAINTED THE KEEL.

[DMBOS]

I have 2 Beneteau “First 345’s and they are a shallow bilge [ no keel stub ] with a 10” bilge for the pump molded into the hull - the top of the keel has the receiving cutout for that fiberglass bilge. That “patch” is over the fiberglass to cast iron seam to fair it - I believe