4 foot by Approx 1 inch stainless steel plate on keel

jimbeam

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 21, 2019
Messages
172
Fluid Motion Model
C-248 C
Hull Identification Number
FMLT2545G708
Vessel Name
waite & sea
What is the purpose of the stainless plate bolted to the bottom of the keel on my R25.A couple of the bolts seem loose and I can't tighten them. It's as if they might be stripped. I noticed it when I loosened the keel bolt just above it to let water out.
Jimbeam
 
On our 2015 R25SC those bolts did not appear to be in straight but came from the factory that way and were tight the entire six years we owned the boat.
 
The SS plate was used for two purposes. One it is a keel shoe to help protect the keel and keel extension. Two, to add support to the keel extension. Unfortunately when installed the factory does a poor job sealing the stainless steel lag bolts and machine bolts. Their ability to drill straight is not that good.

This is a photo of the keel shoe on my C26. When I was priming it to apply anti fouling paint I notices that all the lags and bolts were installed at angles and the shoe was not fastened properly to the keel. I removed the lag bolts that lag into the keel extension and resealed them. When I removed them water drained out. The boat was 1 year into service at that time. I would guess there are a lot of Ranger and Cutwaters out there that have that issue.
gallery2.php?g2_itemId=48316


Here is a post when I found the issue. I did remove the lags bolts because I didn't think they were sealed as Ronnie said they were. They were not and did have water drain out after sitting in storage for six months. I resealed and never checked them again.
viewtopic.php?f=19&t=8969&start=0&hilit=keel+shoe
 
Back
Top