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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Wing Keel

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Dick Johnson
1st Mate

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USA
40 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/15/2006 : 20:25:58

I have moved from Ohio to NC and am now sailing in brackish and salt water. I'm considering changing to a wing keel from my swing. Where do I get one and about how much does it cost? I'll have to have one of the marinas install it for me.

Thanks,
Dick

Richard Johnson

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2006 : 21:33:19

In a nutshell.... couple thousand for the keel, couple thousand more if you pay to have someone put it in.

IMHO: no real problem with a well-maintained swinger in salt water. The key phrase there is well maintained.

Renewing the keel cable every year or two is essential... ditto inspecting/cleaning/painting the winch, keel pipe, turning ball and hinge assembly. All that probably comes to about $100/year (parts).

Encapsulating the keel in epoxy will greatly reduce maintenance issues on the iron... if properly done.

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2006 : 22:37:45

Dick J,

My 1979 swing keel C-25 has been kept in tropical saltwater its entire life. I encapulated the iron keel in fiberglass and epoxy, and installed a bronze pivot bushing. Every two or three years (when I haul out for bottom painting) I replace the cable, its attachment bolt, and the four pivot support bolts. At the same time, I inspect the rest of the swing keel system, and repair or replace anything that seems about due. (The winch for instance.) I also re-patch the fiberglass on the keel where it runs aground.

An iron swing keel is probably a bit more maintenance than a fixed lead keel, but compared to the overall amount of work a boat this size requires (especially in saltwater), it's no big deal. Now if both types of keels slam into a hard underwater obstacle at speed, I wouldn't care to trade repair costs with the fixed keel.

-- Leon Sisson

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Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2006 : 09:51:28

Dick, my 1985 swinger has been in salt water (Chesapeake) for fourteen years, most of them year-round. I heartily Amen everything Clam and Leon said. There are many, too many posts about this issue in the archives. But if you have four thousand or so dollars to calm your fears, you can get the wing from either Catalina Direct or the Catalina factory itself.

Brooke

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2006 : 17:59:43

Hi Dick, a little off topic, but did you live in Michigan for a time? Cheers.

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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2006 : 08:19:04

Hey Dick, I just sent you and E-mail.

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Steve Siefken
1st Mate

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USA
81 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2006 : 09:18:08

I need to as a stupid question - but for those whi have swing keels in salt water, can a boatyard replace the parts you are talking about?

Thanks,

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2006 : 09:51:57

Steve, several forum members have accomplished the switch themselves. I didn't feel up to the job and so contracted a local yard to do it. Best upgrade to the boat ever done.

Val on the hard DAGNABIT # 3936 Patchogue, N.Y.

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2006 : 10:50:50

"for those whi have swing keels in salt water, can a boatyard replace the parts you are talking about? "

The keel parts are pretty trivial to replace unless they have been allowed to rust in place. (This mostly happens to the hardware that attaches the keel cable to the keel).

BTW: That part should be upgraded to the 'new style' attachment if it hasn't been done already.

The Catalina Direct "Owners Bible" has a discussion on keel maintenance and lists all the parts you need. If you don't have one yet, it will be the best money you'll ever spend on your boat (aside from association membership).

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Steve Siefken
1st Mate

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USA
81 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2006 : 11:27:39

Is this the document you are talking about?

http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=4

Thanks,

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2006 : 12:31:13

Steve S,

Yeah, that's it, the [[url="http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=4"]Catalina 25 Owner's Handbook[/url]].

The swing keel preventive maintanence ClamBeach and I described isn't hard to do. I'd put it on the same level of difficulty as replacing boat trailer undercarriage parts. The big caviat is the weight of the swing keel. At 1,500 lbs it's not trivial. Collectively, the swing keel owners on this forum have come up with safe, easy, economical techniques for doing the work and dealing with the weight. I do my swing keel maintanence on the trailer in my driveway. When I encapsulated my iron swing keel with epoxy and fiberglass, I did it in my garage, and reinstalled it in my driveway.

If you'd prefer to have a boat yard deal with it, any yard which can lift a C-25 in the first place should have no problem working on the swing keel.

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

Steve Siefken
1st Mate

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USA
81 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2006 : 22:34:07

Thanks guys! Just ordered the handbook!

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.