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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Keel Replacement

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DaveC25
Navigator

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USA
152 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/07/2007 : 09:18:33

Does anyone know if the fin keel can bolt up in place of a wing? Also, how much does a new fin Keel cost and where can you get one? Anyone want to trade keels? (j/k on that last one)

I was thinking of changing my keel from a wing to a fin for better pointing to windward, less leeway.

Does anyone know of anyone who's done this or whether or not it really worth it? I'm soon going to take off on some extensive cruising and I want to make sure I can point well enough on long passages should I have to beat up a channel or something.

1979 Catalina 25 "Pretty Penny" #1166
Palm Bay, Florida

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 06/07/2007 : 09:22:12

Our boats are a miracle of compromise which makes them spot on for most of us, If I wanted to sail faster and higher I would buy a different boat.

Edited by - on

DaveC25
Navigator

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USA
152 Posts

Response Posted - 06/07/2007 : 09:25:43

I agree, but I have alot of history with this boat, the sweat and blood type salvaging her from hurricane damage and all. I've been through the whole bottom once repairing holes and such. One thing I haven't done is replace the keel bolts, which on a '79 may need at least inspected. While I'm there, wouldn't be much more effort to just bolt a new keel in place if it would fit.

If I were smart, I'd buy a Catalina 27 for what I want to do.

Edited by - DaveC25 on 06/07/2007 09:26:30

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 06/07/2007 : 09:32:45

Given the year of your boat, you might have a converted swinger. If this is so, it would mean you don't have a keel stub like on fixed keels or true wing keeled boats which would not allow simply unbolting one keel and installing another.

Do you know if your boat is a swing-to-wing?

Edited by - dlucier on 06/07/2007 09:34:35

DaveC25
Navigator

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USA
152 Posts

Response Posted - 06/07/2007 : 09:41:44

Yes, I believe mine was converted to a wing from a swing.

Do you know if this means this boat is less structurally sound than a regular wing or fin boat? (for instance, if she should drop onto her side from a wave in a blow, and the keel tries to turn her back)

The bottom is molded to the keel, which would require cutting the fiberglass (or whatever they used to mold it) in order to remove the keel. Are you saying that a standard wing and fin do not have this molded keel, whereas the keel is just bolted on?

If so, it looks as if there will be a '79 C-25 coming for sale soon.

Edited by - DaveC25 on 06/07/2007 09:47:16

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 06/07/2007 : 10:15:31

Dave,

This picture from the tech tips shows the swing-to-wing keel. Notice how it is shaped so it fits up inside the swing keel's slot.

On true wings and fins, the hull has a keel stub to which the keel is bolted. This drawing of a C27 shows the keel stub which protrudes down from the under side of the hull.

[url="http://www.blumhorst.com/catalina27/images/keel_factory_drawings/keel_construction_pre_may1988_from_catalina.gif"]C27 Hull Drawing[/url]

Edited by - on

farrison
Navigator

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USA
166 Posts

Response Posted - 06/07/2007 : 10:25:33

Dave;

I have an '82 wing that was converted from a fin. I verified this with the factory through some e-mails after I noticed that there were old, differently spaced bolt holes in the bilge. but you say yours was a swinger to start with. There is a very good article in the tech tips, with a great series of pictures, that describes the process of converting a swing to a wing. You can read through that to see what someone went through to get your boat where it is now. It has pictures of the wing with the plug that fits into the swing pocket. As to converting your boat to a fin, I don't believe that Catalina makes a FIN conversion plug for a SWING pocket, but you would have to ask Catalina. Either way, it does not look like an easy (inexpensive) job. I love my wing keel. It does crab a little, but it is just about as easy to trailer as a swing. We pull it out of the lake about twice a year for work and winter. I have a garage with an 11' door and the boat fits into it with inches to spare. I wouldn't be able to do that with a fin.
Good luck with your decision.

Paul

Edited by - on

haley
1st Mate

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USA
59 Posts

Response Posted - 06/07/2007 : 10:37:31

Hello,

This may not matter because your boat has been switched once and is a tad older, but I year ago I looked at a C25 at a broker’s yard and the broker warned me off - pointing out that the keel had been swapped. He attributed the swap to major repair required by some nautical catastrophe – like maybe this vessel found the “Red October” the hard way and came perilously close to catapulting the entire world into nuclear winter (is there a sailing season in a nuclear winter?).

I’ve never had a broker warn me off. I thought maybe they were ill until he walked me to the 30 footer that he’d be happy to have me commission that day. Was it slick salesmanship or his lack of understanding that Catalina’s can swap keels?

So the moral of this scattered story is that it might hurt your resale value.

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 06/07/2007 : 14:44:38

Dave, Penny's wing was installed at the factory in Largo in 1988. I bought her from the PO shortly after she returned.

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DaveC25
Navigator

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USA
152 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2007 : 16:28:21

Thanks for all the pictures and advice. For now I'm just going to leave her as is, and enjoy simpler cruising. If the times comes where I need to do more, I'll probably just buy another boat.

I have to bulkheads out right now since they were rotted completely out, and since I'm replacing them I decided to give her a whole makeover. One thing leads to another and then you want to replace everything.... even the keel I guess. :)

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2007 : 23:28:11

When I find something I like, I tend to stick with it.
I have a 65 year old house that I just love. People keep telling me to sell it or bull-doze it because I keep fixing it up. It would make good economic sense to sell it and buy a newer one. I have old boats, old cars, old bikes. Love 'em, won't sell them, I like the idea of my personal histories with inanimate objects.
When I buy my 36 footer for coastal sailing, I'll keep my beloved C25, just because I have some history with it.

I've also kept my Admiral, whom I met in grade 5. I've kept my daughter who is a quarter century old.

You're decision to keep your old boat is a sound one.

Edited by - on

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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.