Association Forum - Fin Keel & That "Catalina Smile"

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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Fin Keel & That "Catalina Smile"

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bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1783 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/15/2008 : 20:36:58

I took a look at my boat today and was a bit discouraged by the pitting and rust on the keel. I have a 1980 fin keel and last year scraped the keel pretty well, and, on the suggestion from the forum, primed it with RustOleum spray primer for heavily rusted metal and then used ablative bottom paint. I also sealed the hairline crack between the glass and metal keel -- which I understand is referred to by some as the "Catalina Smile". All looked pretty good when she was hauled out in October (I sail in salt water with a May-October season). When I looked today there were small round rust spots all over and the "Catalina smile" seemed longer than last year. Is it normal to have to go through the prime and seal ritual every year? Last summer the bilge was dry and all seemed fine with the keel bolts. I am hoping that this is a routine annual maintenance chore for earlier (non encapsulated) fin keel versions -- but any advise from this August group would be appreciated as I plan my spring projects.

Peter Bigelow
C-25 TR/FK #2092 Limerick
Rowayton, Ct
Port Captain: Rowayton/Norwalk/Darien CT

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2008 : 09:19:59

Was the weight of the boat on the keel all winter?
One of the reasons I sold my swinger was the cast iron keel and my inability to accept the maintenance that goes along with trying to have a rust free keel. If you are like me you may want to find a newer boat, I doubt it would net out to much money to move up to a lead keel and an outside fuel locker.

Edited by - Frank Hopper on 03/16/2008 09:22:45

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2008 : 11:16:50

Peter,
I seem to remember history of the SMILE as having centered on

first) the keel bolts and the proper tension they required.

second) the condition of the plywood spacer between the hull and
the keel. If the wood is spongy and or unstable and in
need of replacement the keel bolt torque will not hold
and the SMILE will persist. I imagine replacement of the
plywood would require removing the keel and the offending
plywood , encapsulating new wood in epoxy, and reassembly.

All of this info is, I think, available in the search forum.

I've seen yards attempting to correct the SMILE superficially
by glassing over it. And repeating the process on succcessive
seasons when their attempts proved futile.

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

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2008 : 12:15:02

my 78 cast iron fin keel is encapsulated in epoxy, there are also 6 new 3/4 inch stainless keel bolts sistered alongside the original ones. Zero rust spots on the keel after 4 years and no smile.

Full time in salt water. Bottom painted every 2 years.

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sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2008 : 13:13:44

I have the rust and cracks in the finish in the cast iron swing keel which I have removed and stripped, sandblasted, fair ed, and refinished after several of the auto body chunks fell off. The keel does spend 5 or 6 weeks in saltwater every other year. The Forum taught me that it needed zinc plates even in freshwater but it was too late. So now I maintain it by working on a section at a time with the grinder and refinish with epoxy and fairing with micro balloons, finish and then bottom paint. You have the smile problem which it sure sounds like some great ideas to correct. The cast iron just needs a maintenance schedule.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2008 : 13:41:37

[url="http://www.blumhorst.com/catalina27/images/keel_factory_drawings/keel_crack_repair._from_catalina.gif"]Keel Crack Repair[/url]

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bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1783 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2008 : 20:45:59

Don, Thanks for the link -- very helpful as I think through the immediate severity and options to correct the crack.

Jim, I dread the idea of taking the keel down, fairing it and then epoxy sealing it - BUT -- everyone I know who has done it, regardless of type/age/brand of boat has sworn that it is worth the effort . . .

Thanks to everyone -- have also been looking at the archived threads on the subject. One theing we all should remember is to advise whomever hauls our boats the importance of proper weight distributionon the keel (as well as all over the hull).

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2008 : 20:57:23

This may sound silly, but doesn't the quality/build of your trailer/cradle also come into play here? seems to me that the Catalina cradles have an angled "shoe" for the keel to sit in to properly support the keel.

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bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1783 Posts

Response Posted - 03/25/2008 : 22:40:31

That's very true -- I do not have either a trailer or cradle and "assumed" that when the yard hauled the boat they would shim it correctly. As I look at it they just put her down flat. I was thinkig of makking a "shoe" for the keel so it is angled properly for next year.

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tbosch
Navigator

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163 Posts

Response Posted - 03/26/2008 : 12:04:12

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 [url="http://www.blumhorst.com/catalina27/images/keel_factory_drawings/keel_crack_repair._from_catalina.gif"]Keel Crack Repair[/url]
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Step 4 says to "tighten keel bolts per schedule". Does anyone know how tight that is?

I've got a "smile" to deal with this spring, too...

Thanks,
Todd
'80 C25 SR/FK

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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.