Got the nuts off!

Posted By: amory
Date: 1/6/08 6:45a.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

I removed 5 of 6 nuts yesterday. After digging out all the wet wood in the keel stub, even the parts right under the washers, I used a mallet and a piece of wood to free the washers and drive them down to the bottom of the bolts. Then I used a dremel to make one cut in each nut all the way through. Then I used a chisel to try to widen the nut at the slot a bit. To my surprise, I was simply able to remove the nuts with a wrench at that point by twisting them off. I didn't need to use PB blaster or any penetrating oil. The only one left is the aft bolt, which is loose but in an awkward position to twist off without a socket. The threads on the bolts are in decent condition, considering they are 33 years old. I think I will rebuild the bilge with a few layers of glass and epoxy and then put new bolts on deeper down where the threads are in good shape. Maybe I will even hold off on sistering the new bolts in since things are looking much better than I expected overall.