Keel, rudder and steering inspection
The keel carries the boat's weight and the rudder steers it. Check for grounding damage, a cracked keel joint, play in the rudder and the state of the steering.
Updated 2 min read
Key points
- A crack or weeping rust at the keel-hull joint needs expert attention.
- Rudder play at the bottom of the blade points to worn bearings.
- Steering cables, quadrant and emergency tiller should all work.
The keel
On a modern sailboat the keel is a cast iron or lead fin bolted to the hull. It takes loads in a grounding, in a knockdown and when the boat is lifted. Inspection at haul-out covers:
- The joint. A line where the keel meets the hull can open up as a "smile", a thin crack across the forward edge. A small crack in the fairing paint can be cosmetic. A crack in the joint itself needs a specialist.
- Rust stains weeping from the joint, which show water moving through bolts.
- Dents and flat spots at the bottom and leading edge, which show past groundings.
- Inside the boat: the keel bolts, nuts and washers, the floors or grid they bear on, and signs of cracking or past repair in the laminate around them.
Ask the seller about any grounding and for the repair papers. A surveyor can recommend removing a section of fairing or testing the bolts.
The rudder
- With the boat on the hard, push and pull the bottom of the blade. A few millimetres of movement may be normal. More shows wear.
- Look for cracks, weeping water or rust at the blade and stock.
- Inside: the rudder stock, the bearings and the seal. Check for water entry.
- On a spade rudder, the blade carries all the load on the stock, so corrosion in the stock is a serious finding.
Steering
- Turn the wheel lock to lock with the boat in the water. It should move smoothly, with no jumps.
- Check cables or hydraulic lines for wear, rust and leaks, and the sheaves for wear.
- Check the quadrant, the autopilot drive and the mountings.
- Fit the emergency tiller and check it works.
On a motor yacht
Check the steering gear, the hydraulic ram, trim tabs and the thruster. Hydraulic leaks are usually a sign of aging seals.
What it costs when it goes wrong
Rudder bearings and cables are routine repairs. A stock or keel repair is a large job and sometimes a deal-breaker. See Post-survey renegotiation: reduce, repair or walk away.
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General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change; check your own case with a professional or ask us.