Association Forum - Swing Keel won't stay up

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Swing Keel won't stay up

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

dnorth
1st Mate

Member Avatar

USA
36 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/26/2006 : 15:26:02

When I raise my keel it won't stay up. If you let it go, it spins the winch and drops back down. So, I hold it and then let it down gently.

I don't have much swing keel experience, but on the other boats I have been on the keel stays put.

Any ideas on how to fix this.

David North
Catalina 25, Swing Keel, 1977, Hull #6
Edmond, Oklahoma

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2006 : 15:34:41

I am sure there are others with much more knowledge about this, but I think there are brake/clutch in the drum the might wear out. I do not have the problem you have but lately I have seen metal dust on the step below the drum after I winch up or down so I assume something is wearing out. Cheers.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2006 : 16:16:37

Buy a new one now before you sink your boat; really.

http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=558

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1608 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2006 : 16:58:59

This is one of those things you don't want to mess around with.
You could probably remove and rebuild your winch, but for about $150 you can buy a complete new one.
I'm a do-it-yourselfer and love fixing things but this isn't one I'd attempt. I don't think Catalina Direct sells parts for these winchs, just complete replacement units.

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2006 : 18:24:22

To add to the import of this crank, one of our local Clinton River Catalina Ass. member's crank let loose and the keel swung down and when it hit the stops, it cracked the fiberclass and he sank at his slip. It took about one minute to sink!!! He had full insurance and they totally the boat. Cheers.

Edited by - on

dnorth
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
36 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2006 : 20:12:41

Thanks, I ordered a new winch and handle. Any hints on installation.

Edited by - on

gnorgan
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
563 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2006 : 21:31:10

I had a C22 with the same problem. I replaced the whole thing. You'll be much happier with knowing that it will work.

Edited by - gnorgan on 09/27/2006 06:45:58

Brooke Willson
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2006 : 23:42:14

Just in case -- make sure you're cranking the correct way. Right to raise, left to lower. If you crank the wrong way, the clutch won't hold, the crank will windmill, and if you try, instinctively, to stop it, you can almost break a finger. Guess how I know this?

If you're cranking to the right (clockwise) and you don't hear a clicking sound, then your winch is sick.

Brooke

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

Members Avatar

USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2006 : 00:27:12

To bad you don't have a part number because it is probably a re-labeled Fulton braking winch and cheaper from Fulton.

Can't say with certainty, but on my Clipper it was a simple matter of lowering the keel to take the load off the cable (in water or on trailer), unspooling the remaining cable, and remove and replace the winch. Crank it back up.
Dave B.

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 10/04/2006 : 10:30:42

I agree with the advise given concerning replacing. One of the risks of a swing keel is the lifting winch. Lots have been written about this over the years. If the winch fails when the keel is up, the falling keel will do significant damage, up to and including sinking the boat. YOU DON'T WANT TO MESS WITH A DEFECTIVE KEEL WINCH. PERIOD. END OT STORY.

Edited by - on

dnorth
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
36 Posts

Response Posted - 10/04/2006 : 12:41:06

I got the new winch in the mail yesterday, now I just have to install it.

Thanks for all the ideas.

Edited by - on

bakbone
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
24 Posts

Response Posted - 10/04/2006 : 15:27:40

david - where out of edmond do you slip and sail at

i'm out at hefner.

Edited by - on

dnorth
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
36 Posts

Response Posted - 10/04/2006 : 16:57:56

I am also at Lake Hefner, in the city slips on the west side.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/04/2006 : 18:34:37

I have raced and daysailed from both sides of the lake. She is a gem to sail on. My first sail was there in a Flying Junior. While I am sure people have larger boats than ours, I think our 25s are the perfect boat for Hefner.

Edited by - on

bakbone
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
24 Posts

Response Posted - 10/05/2006 : 10:28:58

glad to see someone else enjoys shallow water

and high winds

. i'll look forward to possibly meeting you either on the dock (i'm slipped out of gate 11 out near the wall - and gulls) or on the water - when we get some! are you by chance any relation to a north from oc? frank, your most definately right about 25's being the perfect size for the lake. someone's got a new 30' out there and i've seen them already run a ground (glad i've got a wing - a swing would be better though like you've got david).

keep the thought of sailing going!

bruce heng

Edited by - on

dnorth
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
36 Posts

Response Posted - 10/05/2006 : 14:20:13

Yes, it would be nice to get some water in the lake. The swing keel has come in handy several times.

Yes, I am related to Dr. North. He is my father.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/06/2006 : 07:52:54

Don't you wonder how hull number 6 got to Oklahoma? I would think the first several hundred would be in southern California. As I recal Hull 1 is in Texas.

Edited by - on

dnorth
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
36 Posts

Response Posted - 10/06/2006 : 08:03:03

I bought #6 this year. It has been in OK for 4 years. It was in Texas before that. I guess it has traveled quite abit in 30 years.

Edited by - on

dnorth
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
36 Posts

Response Posted - 10/26/2006 : 10:34:35

Ok, I got a new winch installed. Thanks for all the help. Why is everything harder than it seems...

I ordered the new winch and it came as promised from Catalina Direct. Once I had time, I went out to the lake to put it on. Seem easy enough. Just unbolt the old one, bolt on the new one and attach the cable.

I started to take off the old winch but found I needed an extender for my socket to loosen it. So off to Home Depot to get the extender. After a few days I was back at the lake to finish the job. Was able to use the extender to take of the old winch. Started to put the new winch on and found the holes in the mount for the new winch did not match the bolts comming through the step in the cabin stairs. Off again to Home Depot to get a metal drill bit to put holes in the mount that matched the bolts. I goot the holes drilled and the winch bolted on. Fought with the frayed ends of the cable to get the cable attached after a few pokes that drew blood, I got the cable attached. Started to put the winch together and found the new winch was a little larger than the old winch and it would not fit over the PVC pipe around the cable. So back to Home Depot to get a saw to cut an inch of the PVC pipe. Back to the boat, cut the pipe, and put the winch back together.

Finally ready to give it a try. Brought the keel up, but it would not stay. Bummer, that was the original problem. After some invesitgation, I found the the bolt going though one of the new holes was too long and was preventing the rachet from moving so it would not slip into the gear teeth. I was done(in more ways than one) for the night.

The next day I was of to Home Depot for the 4th time to get a hack saw,file and vice to cut the bolt off. Back to the boat to cut of the bolt. Took the winch off, cut the bolt, put it back on and was ready to try it out.

Success! I can now move the keel up and down with out fear of dropping the keel to hard.T

This was way to hard. This is my first competed project on my boat. I have several to go. I think I need to by stock in Home Depot.

Edited by - dnorth on 10/26/2006 10:36:54

djn
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 10/26/2006 : 11:04:54

Hi Dave, I am found that most projects go that way. Fortuneatly there is a HD near the marina so I make a day of it. Cheers.

Edited by - on

Steve Siefken
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
81 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2006 : 11:18:31

That has been my experience too. Only had the boat for a year and a half, but nothing is ever easy when it comes to this kind of stuff.

It always takes at least twice as long as you would think.

Sounds like you persevered and did a great job!

Edited by - on

waltex
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
22 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2006 : 19:19:34

This is why I pulled the boat I waws given and took it apart to rebuild. It's apart now almost ready to paint, but we found where the keel had dropped with PO and getting ready to repair FG. It definitely is cracked. I didn't trust the old girl. I'm glad I never sailed her. She's old like me with need for some fixin' up. The SK pin was bent 3/8" when the keel dropped. I imagine much more and the keel would have detached altogether.

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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.