The bilge in my boat sometimes has a little water. I wouldn't worry about it unless you see a lot of rust. My '77 has new(ish) SS bolts and the bilge isn't perfectly dry. the bolts look fine.
Here's my advice (and I'm not an expert by any means): If there's no crack, there's no stagnant water getting at the bolts. As long as the water isn't deep, there's oxygen in it. The SS bolts should last a couple of decades. I personally wouldn't encase them in huge blobs of epoxy. You'd never get the nuts off for inspection. As far as I'm aware of, maintenance consists of periodically removing the nuts (one at a time) and inspecting the bottom of the bolt for signs of corrosion. Then reinstall new washers and nuts, retorque to spec, and seal with a dollop of epoxy or polysulfide caulk or Sikaflex 291 LOT(after coating the nut and bolt top with releasing agent so you can get it off in a year or two to re-inspect) Also, perform a "sounding" of the bolts by striking them with a metal hammer. Good bolts have a ringing sound. A rusted out bolt will have a "dead" sound. It's not perfectly reliable, but it may clue you in about the invisible part of the bolt. Hope this helps. I'm not an expert like the folks at Svendson's boat works, but that's what I've learned hanging around there for more than a decade. Fair winds, Judy B SF Bay, CA http://www.blumhorst.com/catalina27/catalinahomepage.htm ________________________________ From: Joe McCary <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Sunday, May 10, 2009 11:21:54 AM Subject: RE: [IC27A] Re: Source of the Catalina smile. OK, so I have a related question. My bilge is NEVER dry. It always has a little dirty water in it. The pump’s “float switch in not a float, but instead an electronic sensor that turns on the pump. But the pump runs until it’s water intake is dry but there is still a little water in the bilge. Obviously this covers the bottom of the bulge and the SS bolts (she is an ’81) are covered. What should I do? I could completely empty the bilge and pour in some more glass to raise the bottom to a level past the nuts and make a sump depression for then pump to draw from. But is that necessary? This year when I pulled the boat I had NO smile. It has been in the water for at least 2½ years. Joe McCary Aeolus II, West River, MD joe at photoresponse. com www.aeoluswestriver .net __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4063 (20090508) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset. com
