30+ Keel Bolts -- Washer Rusted Away

[egalvan]

Yesterday I cleaned out the two bilges under the dinette. As I scrubbed away and sponged out an accumulation of reddish brown stuff, a little crescent of rusty washer from one of the keel bolts came off. The pictures below show what came off and where it came from. You can see that I placed the rusty little crescent shaped washer remnant next to the bolt from which it came. The bolt is still tight against the part of the washer that lies right under it The outboard area of these washers have holes drilled or cast into them. Perhaps they are sacrificial? Meant to corrode to protect the bolts? Anybody ever have this happen before? How scared should I be? Immediate-haulout-drop-keel scared? Or deal with it at next scheduled haulout?



Here is what the other bilge looks like. I haven't yet tried to access the remaining 3 bolts that are harder to get to.

 

[mjsouleman]

egalvan,

Wow, If 1) the boat is in the water and 2) the bilge is not filling with water, then 3) this is not an emergency.

However, I would begin a discussion with the yard and schedule a keel re-bed.

If the bilge has water filling then you might want to take her out earlier.

MJS