#57: When Re-Torquing Keel Bolts: 250 = 180

[@robertrafter2644]

Have just spent a rainy day in Dublin watch'n all your great vid's keep them coming.

[@HaveWindWillTravelcom]

+Robert Rafter Thanks Robert. Wow. All of them? That's a lot of Video Annie. Do you need to take a break? Ha. Glad you're enjoying them. Thanks for watching! I'll keep 'em coming!

[@joelblea4992]

Very educational and entertaining. Thank you!

[@dtonvista]

Damn, that looks like more than you had expected, your good crew seems to be good doing their job.

[@HaveWindWillTravelcom]

+dtonvista It definitely was. Like I said: "Keels ... kind of important," though right? I feel better now that she's far more secure.

[@normanboyes4983]

Well, you are all certainly moving it along and making real progress. Can't say the epoxy work around the keel 'crack' is something I would have been happy with but hey Brandon is happy and thats enough for anyone. Hopefully you have recovered from all of this disruption and got the interior back into good order. :-)

[@HaveWindWillTravelcom]

Not quite yet Norman but we're certainly working toward that goal. That keel seam was ... well ... I'll just say a project and leave it at that. But she's stronger and ready for blue water. Only 839 projects to go!

[@CheersWarren]

Glad to see you having a go at these projects. If somebody didn't say it's torque not torch setting with the wrench...just an accent problem. The keel seam is tricky. It would be nice to be able to squeeze in the epoxy first into the crack then torque the bolts so the epoxy is actually in the seam, but that would be scary Incase the epoxy set before your got the bolts tightened. We used to use a 2 part product called PRC a 2 part rubbery product that cures and allows slight flex. Better than one part moisture cure products. Good job.

[@erikgranqvist3680]

I general, its easier to get tejp off before the compound is fully dry.

[@sailingceltic1911]

nice work guys, the hard work will pay off in the end

[@HaveWindWillTravelcom]

+SAIL CANCER Thanks! We believe it will!

[@crashkahuna]

Nice work and cleanest bilge in town.

[@HaveWindWillTravelcom]

+crashkahuna Yeah buddy! She's spotless and painted ... for now. We're hoping to keep her that way. Best of intentions, right? Thanks for watching!

[@svamandolin3546]

Great Video. I am about to tackle this on Saturday.

[@stevemason5348]

Great video, I must admit at that stage I would have dropped the keel off, cleaned and reseated it and maybe longer studs with some pads of wood sealed and fibreglassed in position but Hey if its all good what the heck. Oh to have a woman who gets stuck into all the jobs, mine is about as much use as a chocolate fire guard, hats off to you young Lady

[@HaveWindWillTravelcom]

+Steve Mason Oh my gawd. A "chocolate fire guard." I love the stuff you folks throw around on here. I've got to step up my "funny sayings" game. That's hilarious. Thanks for the kudos and for watching. Video Annie gets stuck with it all!

[@richardwhitehead4684]

I’m currently dealing with keel movement issues in a Sabre 28-2. Obviously not the same boat, but a similar lead keel bolted to a stub as your boat. A couple comments I’d love to get your feedback on. First, did you use any lube (grease, anti-seize, etc) on the keel bolt threads?, second, did you verify that all the athwartship bracing is solidly attached (my Sabre had some pulling of the tabbing on a few which prob contributed to stub movement), third, why did you choose epoxy for the keel/stub seam? Sabre community is strongly against using epoxy because it won’t tolerate flex and could crack again. Sabre people recommend either a polyester goo like 4000 or even 5200 or plain old polyester putty. Finally, you said you used 4000 around leaking keel bolts. Did you knotch the fiberglass around the bolt first or just squeeze it in as best you could? My boat leaks at both the keel bolts and the keel/stub joint. Ugh! Anyway, sorry for all the words and thanks for sharing your experience. I may do the same on my Sabre 28-2.

[@inuitparagliding3422]

Hi good video :) is that foot pounds ore Newton ?

[@aorakiboydog]

You guys should have dropped the keel for a good look , not right off but enough to check for crevice corrosion and clean up the keel to hull join, if you have to tighten the bolts something is giving , I'm surprised the boat yard guys didn't steer you on the right path. Do it once do it right. My trade is a Boatbuilder from New Zealand . It's great that your having fun with life ...all the best.

[@HaveWindWillTravelcom]

+Hot n Salty Hey Hot n Salty. Wow, dropping the keel. That is a BIG job. When we routed out the seam between the keel and the hull everything looked solid, dry. We're not sure the bolts had ever been checked in 31 years, so it was definitely time to tighten them regardless. We did not see any other issues, however, with the keel joint. Thanks for watching. We're definitely having a good time!

[@christophermeoli8480]

Hello, hope you’re well wherever you may be. I had the same problem with the keel smile with my boat (albeit slightly small though) and repaired it the same way with the Gflex and routing. I was wondering how yours has held up over the years? Apologize if you’ve answered this somewhere else on your channel, I just stumbled across this video while searching for keel smiles. Really appreciate any feedback. Thanks! Chris

[@bradkuether3561]

You have to be a little bit o' everyone when you own a boat. Mechanic, plumber, etc. Nice job on the keel seam. Don't go nuts off camera if you see cracks develop again later on. Single in line keel bolts simply cannot prevent that from happening. Most performance boats suffer the same ill. Thick keels and racing performance don't mix well. Regarding the filler, you have to go behind closed doors for that. The stuff is so light, any wind will pick it up. I learned that when using the bead filler compound. I actually brought a washer / dryer box down to the marina to mix my epoxy components, in order to stay out of the wind but close to the boat. Nice vid, keep them coming.

[@HaveWindWillTravelcom]

+IntermittentSailingWithKids Thanks Intermittent! I am laughing picturing you hunkered under a washer/dryer box next to your boat mixing epoxy. I'll bet people gave you strange looks. But, we get that all the time. All of the crazy things we're always dragging back and forth from the boat to our condo. We imagine the HOA folks frown upon us and refer to us in derogatory fashion as "Those boat people." Ha ha. Glad you're enjoying the show. I have tons more to share!

[@koningbolo4700]

180... Make it so ! Working with some polyesters some time ago and talking to painters the other day learned me to remove any masking material when the paint or resin is still "wet"...

[@HaveWindWillTravelcom]

Thanks Sander. Appreciate the tip and thanks for watching!

[@danmalthus671]

If you had water in the seam the only way to check the studs for integrity/corrosion is to drop the keel. Just checking nuts and washers doesn't tell you much from what lies beneath. Also shouldn't re torque to factory specs especially if the studs have corroded. That's when you will snap studs. Patching it up is a quick easy solution but you will have most likely have trapped stagnant water in there with the bolts

[@andyward8336]

I used to build boats and if there was a repair required involving osmosis, the first thing was heat and a vacuum bag to draw out the moisture, and us vacuum to draw in the new repair resin .

[@HaveWindWillTravelcom]

Thanks Andy. Appreciate it.

[@JD-hs7ib]

Agreed 100% But these people are too ignorant to understand.

[@ChrisMcEvoy]

Awesome video as usual :)

[@HaveWindWillTravelcom]

+Chris McEvoy Thank you Chris! Appreciate it. I'll keep 'em coming.

[@timhyatt9185]

question about repairing the crack.....everything i've ever seen about repairing fiberglass, should you not have sanded back a broader second layer for a layer of glass & epoxy over it?

[@JConk007]

Great video!! and exactly what I needed to see !! Have you hauled the boat since you did the keel seam ?? How did the G flex hold up ?? I have a similar issue with my keel and they say I should leave it alone Boat is on the hard and weeping badly :( ?? say it will be a $5000+ repair on my 1982 boat real bummer !! but pretty sure I can do what you did myself

[@shipskepr1]

ill bet your heart fell into your stomach when you heard that pop,glad it was the wrench and not the bolt.just a hint if you pull your tape before the epoxy dries ,its not such a ordeal to pull the tape.we had a tour of a yacht club we are thinking of joining its a nice place ,will see if we go that route or not.fair winds and safe passages,,,paul

[@HaveWindWillTravelcom]

+paul stratton Thanks Paul. I need all the hints I can gather! Ha! Obviously. Yes, breaking a torque wrench (while not great) is bearable. Breaking a keel bolt ... is NOT. Good luck with the yacht club! Once you join, you can call yourself a "yachtie" : D

[@watahyahknow]

next time pull the tape while the epoxy is still in the green stage it prolly pulls off eazier , might roll the epoxy up a little along the edge though

[@HaveWindWillTravelcom]

Yep. I've since learned that! Thanks. Where were you when I was cutting it off through dried epoxy?! ; )

[@watahyahknow]

prolly sleeping or working on the assemblyline then again i dont own a boat ....... anymore at times like the once youre experiancing at the moment i'm real happy about that but when youre sailing at places where the water is clear and the sun is shining ..... whell you get the picture owned a small speedboat btw , i have been working on other peoples boats once in a while

[@rchopp]

Great to see your making progress I bet you didn't think you'd have to be a chemist and a physicist and any other ist job when you bought a boat..lol.

[@HaveWindWillTravelcom]

+rchopp "-ist job" Ha! I like that. So true. Not to mention the -er and -ian jobs: plumber, electrician, magician (feels like it sometimes). But, my favorite -ist job? Contortionist! To fit into the lazarettes!

[@wornslapout]

Running late this week, great video. Happy Easter! Do you know why the Easter Egg wouldn't cross the road? It was a little chicken!

[@HaveWindWillTravelcom]

+Ted Smith Oh my god. I just spit up my drink. (And that's blasphemy around here!) No worries Ted. We're happy to have you, even a day late and a dollar short. Glad you enjoyed. I just finished up Monday's video and I ... am ... excited. I think you guys are going to love it. Glad to have you following along as always! Happy Easter to you, too. I won't tell you about the horribly sac-religious jokes that were made as we stepped the mast on Thursday and kept shouting: "He Has Risen!" Did that just go out on KZbin ... *gulp*

[@wornslapout]

+HaveWindWillTravel.com Ha! I'm sure! So, What do you call the Easter Bunny if he married a Chicken? The first bunny to Lay and egg...

[@HaveWindWillTravelcom]

Ha haaaa! I heard a terrible one today. Why did the Easter Bunny hide the eggs? (Because he didn't want anyone to know he had hooked up with a chicken ... ) I kept the expletives out of that one for ya. ; )

[@billbye1432]

oooops! someone say something about a long eared animal in havana! our shipyard annie needs to be re-civilized lol hahahah!

[@HaveWindWillTravelcom]

+bill bye I agree, but I'm not sure I'm going to cope well to life out of the shipyard. It's been kind of nice not having to think about what to wear or dress up for anything. Just throw on my shipyard clothes and a hat and go. Once we splash, I'm going to have to get a haircut and try to get presentable on occasion!

[@phygital1]

A torque multiplier would help a great deal.

[@lubberwalker]

I don't know why you put tape on! It wasn't needed, left an edge and seams for ingress.

[@skipperup]

"Retourched" really? Is that where ya heat up the bolts to 250 degrees? Lucky ya didn't have to have new keel bolts installed by the yard, that would cost around 10 grand!

[@paulgillard2258]

You need to use a extension calculator App when extending the bar your settings will change significantly

[@fastsandpops]

Note to self: Pull tape before epoxy cures.

[@HaveWindWillTravelcom]

+MATTHEW SMITH Got it. Will write on my forehead for next time! Ha!

[@wheelitzr2]

it's torqued not torched.

[@BBox99]

your torquing procedure was not a good way of doing it with the extra extensions.

[@HaveWindWillTravelcom]

Hey Billy. Seems to me that's the only way we could do it. There's no room in the bilge to turn the wrench. How would you go about it?

[@Lehmann108]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with using extensions with a torque wrench. You just have to brace it with your other hand like they did.

[@svlonestar7645]

Oh Jesus,,😲

[@Lehmann108]

Ah, 180 ain't 250!

[@davandstudios]

Psst. Hey lady, your floor is missing.

[@HaveWindWillTravelcom]

+Urban Deployment What? It is?! Where'd it go? : )

[@regieendsley9750]

Please, PLEASE, tell me that was NOT a Snap-on torque wrench.

[@HaveWindWillTravelcom]

+Regie Endsley Nope. It was a Stanley. One borrowed from a fellow boat buddy. Shout out to Johnny Walker if you're watching! And, they honored the lifetime warranty on it and replaced it. AND he got upgraded to their new Pro Line series. So, we really did him a favor by breaking it! ; )

[@regieendsley9750]

+HaveWindWillTravel.com Really glad he got a new one and the up-grade. I had a Snap-on socket round out and they replaced it but I was still a little bummed.

[@HaveWindWillTravelcom]

Yeah, we were too. We had our buddy over and cooked him a nice dinner and gave him a big bottle of rum to "make up" for it. We felt terrible about it. But, he just shrugged it off. Thank you Johnny!