Rusty keel bolts, buy or walk away

[mrcookiepear]

I am considering doing a bid on this boat. It is a dutch made "bries vd Stadt", in the UK known as "offshore 8mtr". The boat is from 1968. All keel bolts look like the one in the picture. It seems like superficial rust to me. Is replacing those nuts possible or should I walk away?
Any thoughts?
Thanks

[GreenWave]

That’s a lot of rust. I personally wouldn’t touch it

[nuku34]

Unless the boat is a freebee and you want to spend $ and days fixing it, Take a hike!!!

[capt jgw]

Is the keel iron or lead? If iron the bolts are usually just threaded in and can be replaced fairly easily. If they don't break off that is, and you won't know till you try. With that amount of rust they might be seized. BTDT. If it's lead they're most likely "J" bolts cast into the keel. Possible to repair but crazy expensive, might be cheaper to have a whole new keel made. If I otherwise really liked the boat and the keel was iron, I'd consider making an offer contingent on the seller replacing them first.

[waterman46]

If you are looking for a boat that old then you might look for one with fibreglass hull and fully encapsulated lead ballast. End of worries and a proper seaworthy ballasting method.

[Rumpi]

My brochure says the keel is cast iron, overlayed with glass and polyester resin, aka. encapsulated keel. I understand there is also a bulb finn version, I believe also cast iron.

On a boat of this vintage and with the amount of rust present dropping the keel is mandatory. The price should reflect this, so how much do they want for the boat? A set of new galvanized or stainless bolts and nuts is not going to break the bank, but the labor can be expensive.

[JimsCAL]

Originally Posted by waterman46

If you are looking for a boat that old then you might look for one with fibreglass hull and fully encapsulated lead ballast. End of worries and a proper seaworthy ballasting method.

Encapsulated ballasts have their own set of potential problems. They are just different from bolted on keels.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by JimsCAL

Encapsulated ballasts have their own set of potential problems. They are just different from bolted on keels.

Absolutely. There is nothing more seaworthy one way or the other. Both have issues.

[c.K.]

Originally Posted by mrcookiepear

I am considering doing a bid on this boat. It is a dutch made "bries vd Stadt", in the UK known as "offshore 8mtr". The boat is from 1968. All keel bolts look like the one in the picture. It seems like superficial rust to me. Is replacing those nuts possible or should I walk away?
Any thoughts?
Thanks

Hey; it probably is"de Vries van der stadt" , but that does not really matter
important is whether it leaks on the keel bolts, I would not worry if it does not
if it does than the same rust or worse will effect the strength of the bolts where you cant see it
I did have such a problem and tried to tighten the bolts 3 of them broke right off catalina 27
I did put 5 new bolts into my lead keel , I can explain how if needed
Good luck