Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 49 Keel bolts

[bri]

Hi all,

i am looking to buy a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 49 from 2005. I come from the world of Bavaria and I am quite use to shiny stainless keelbolts and a perfectly clean bilge and keel area.

All the Sun Odyssey 49 I have seen have been looking quite dirty and rusty, as i understand that Jeanneau is using Iron bolts and plates instead.

The nuts on the Jeanneau 49 seems okay, apart from the main one. That is quite rusty, but it has been like that on all of them. Not sure if this need replacement or anything like that.

One of the things that concerns me are the different hairline cracks in the gelcoat. I did read an article "How to fix a swinging keel on a SO37" on this forum and it seems that Jeanneau has some problem with the laminate in this area. It is cracking where the beam is attached to the bottom. Picture link attached.


www.23hq.com/bribri/photo/51463151


I noticed this article in this forum, which got me a little concerned.

jeanneau.proboards.com/thread/2949/fix-swing-keel-on-so37

My current Bavaria has no hairline cracks what so ever or anything in the keel area, so I am wondering if this is normal on a Jeanneau with the gelcoat.

I have attached the picture of the front bolt with the attachment from Beam to bottom. Not sure if someone tried to paint away the problem at some point, or if this can be disregarded and normal for the age of the boat?

It would be great and sincerely appreciated if you could chip in your comments.

Best regards and thanks in advance

Bri

[MalcolmP]

I would be guided by a good marine surveyors opinion, but my 39i bolts whilst not rusty as I keep the bilges dry do have small cracks similar, but I am believe this is just in the quite brittle "flowcoat" that Jeanneau has painted in the bilge. 

Worth having a good look when out of water too to see if there is any signs of movement of the hull keel joint, possibly from grounding. All yachts with bolt on cast iron keels if grounded hard means that the keel stops before the hull and stresses the sealant which can end up with a gap at the front-end and squashing at the trailing end.

[MalcolmP]

I meant to also say that stainless keel bolts can have a bad reputation as they maybe be subject to hidden crevice corrosion, hence Jeanneau purposely using galvanized steel (not sure what grade) more info: coxeng.co.uk/metallurgy/crevice-corrosion/

[freeflow]

Feb 10, 2019 16:12:55 GMT MalcolmP said:

I would be guided by a good marine surveyors opinion, but my 39i bolts whilst not rusty as I keep the bilges dry do have small cracks similar, but I am believe this is just in the quite brittle "flowcoat" that Jeanneau has painted in the bilge. 

Worth having a good look when out of water too to see if there is any signs of movement of the hull keel joint, possibly from grounding. All yachts with bolt on cast iron keels if grounded hard means that the keel stops before the hull and stresses the sealant which can end up with a gap at the front-end and squashing at the trailing end.

I just pulled my forward keel bolt yesterday.  It developed a slow weep in rough seas, so I felt it is time to reseal them.  2003 43DS
 The boat is in inside storage for the winter, so it is resting on the keel (and jack stands).  I would agree with Malcolm on the "flowcoat" cracks.   Look at the excess that is on the top threads of this bolt
I needed to use a propane torch for a bit to loosen the keel bolt plate, but it came free.  The threads into the keel looked clean and free of corrosion.    I just lightly wire wheeled the bolts them selves for reinstalling next weekend.

this is as they were when I pulled them out


the nut did not move so the whole stud came out of the keel