specialty bolt

Have you thought to try and contact the boat manufacturer? Or any boat maker? The repair shop in your marina?

Well, you mentioned that it has a ferrous nut. I understand that you mean that the nut that was used with this bolt is made of carbon or low alloy steel and not from stainless steel. In some way, the nut may have contributed to protect the bolt agains corrosion my friend. This is the kind of thing you'd not do, specially in salt water environment.

Maybe you could look for threaded taper pins instead of bolts... but I'd look for a shoulder screw to do the job as you described. Many sizes, in different lenghts, it may not be exactly the same part, but could do the same job. Add mating self-locking nut and washers from the same material, and there'll be a good solution.

Have you looked at www.mcmaster.com for something like you're needing? I always take a look there if I need something like that...

It is normal practice to use carbon steel nuts with stainless steel bolts. If you use stainless on stainless it will seize up and you would have to use a torch to cut it off, which I don't think you would want to do on a boat.

Unless the threads are prepped with Loctite's special activator for SS or somethng similar.

Stan, you've got to be kidding! In the (leisure) marine environment you would never use a non stainless nut with a stainless bolt. IOn more than 20 years on yachts, large and small, i have only seen this where someone hasnt been able to find the right component!

Chas

Why replace the bolt if it is still in perfect condition? If it is a custom or modified bolt, why not take it to a machine shop and ask them to replicate it? Sounds like the worst case would be a length of 300 series stainless steel rod and a couple of hours of machine time. If you can't find a shop to fabricate one, We'll make it for you.

Without knowing the model of sailboat I'm taking the liberty of attaching the link for Catalina Yachts C25

Keel Hardware

It may give you a starting point.

I've never been disappointed by Fastenal. If it's worth the expense, they'll even custom manufacture the part.

However, for a one-off, you're probably better off going to a reputable machine shop. They should be able to identify the material of the existing piece and make exactly what you need. I'd ask at the marina, or maybe a custom car shop, where they get machine work done and how satisfied they are with the results.

Thanks for the responses. The bolt was inadvertently destroyed removing the badly corroded ferrous eye nut, which I believe is a terrible practice. I have contacted all the suppliers that I know of, including the ones mentioned. I did find the bolt as a item from a wholesale custom caster, but not in a none-ferrous material. Yes a machinist could turn me one, but here that is would be very expensive.

I am still looking

If you would like us to make you a custom bolt, contact me at hermetric.inc@verizon.net - Where are you located? - We will need either a drawing, a sketch, or the old bolt. Regards, Tom