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Update On Winter Keel Hit

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3494 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/20/2008 : 06:05:18

Along time ago...could not find the posting but believe it was in Jan-feb timeframe, I indicated I was out sailing (just about the only one out there that day) and while tacking in and out of 4-5' depths outside the channel, I hit my wing keel in 5' depth on something (believe a log or tree stump) that slowed the boat from about 4knts down to 0knts and then I rolled over whatever it was. At the time, it scared me...and I checked the bilge to see if there was any water coming in from the keel bolts. There seemed to be no emergency concerns and at least one mentione don this Forum that they had a similar occurence that seemed bad when it happened but turned out to be a minor event.

Well, yesterday was the big day. I finally brought my boat over to the other marina to get my pressure washing ($75 - not bad !). Keel/hull joint - no issue. The cast iron winged keel (starboard side of the wing) has a 3" long X 1 1/2" wide X 1/8" deep depression from whatever I hit. There does not seem to be any further deterioration or whatever. Just seems to be a battle scar. There is one other battle scar from years ago by PO which is minor and that has not had any deterioration either.

How are your keels out there ? Anyone have major battle scars on them ?

Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2008 : 07:08:35

I'll let you know at fall haul-out. In a race early in th eseason, we didn't have the marks in our GPS for "Long Shoal" it is an aptly named shoal where depth comes up quickly to about 3 feet with a single marker on either end of it. Heeled hard over we saw one of the markers but couldn't locate the other. I guessed at which side of the marker we should have been on, and guessed wrong.

Luckily we just heard/felt bump-bump-bump as we went over, but I fear what I'll find at haul out. I am still thankful I didn't hear bump-bump-WHACK!

The only reason we made it over was because we were flying a little more canvas than we should have been and were heeled hard over, and "cleaning debris from the deck".

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2008 : 07:32:41

Your keel is lead

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jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2008 : 08:15:27

My worry is that while backing out of a transient slip/marina this season (relatively slow speed), as we were swinging around to face forward, the swing keel got caught in the much enough to stop us. It was easy enough to move forward and get out of it. While there is no leakage, I'm still a little concerned about what effect there might be with having the SK pushed forward as it was...so far so good, but we'll take a close look at the end of season haul out.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2008 : 08:51:31

This is what happened to my friend's keel on his C25 after an encounter with the granite boulder that lies on the very edge of the marina channel. Brought him to a dead stop.

When I hit the rock, it was more of a glancing blow that carried me up and over the rock!

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jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2008 : 09:15:42

WOW...is that fiber glass around the lead?

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Jefffriday
Navigator

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USA
198 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2008 : 10:58:58

I had a few "battle scars" on my wing when I bought the boat, one was a gouge about 3/8 inch deep on the leading edge. I filled it with thickened west systems epoxy, sanded smooth and then finished my bottom job. Looks good after two seasons

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2008 : 14:21:41

I've seen the same kind of damage Don's picture shows on another C-25 (not mine). The lead C-25 keels that replaced the cast iron ones are covered with an inch or a little more of material that appears very much like asbestos insulation (like what covers some old cast iron furnaces). I'm not saying that's what it is, but that's what it looks like. I had the same keel, but mine was unscathed. I presume the purpose of the covering is to match the shape of the cast iron keel, given that there is less lead for the same ballast. Damage like that might be easily repaired with epoxy putty.

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farrison
Navigator

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USA
166 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2008 : 14:29:08

I have an '82 wing keel, and mine is lead. When I got the boat four years ago, the keel was only painted, and was scarred and corroded. Some of the fairing putty was cracked, loose or missing. I stripped the paint, removed all the loose fairing putty and put two layers of glass fabric over the entire keel and re-faired it. I then painted the repaired area with a two part epoxy paint and then bottom paint. Last year, I got into a rocky shallows (you get cocky about depths with a wing keel)and spent an hour working my way out. So, this spring, I got to repair the damage to my new glass job.
If your scars aren't too bad, you can mix up some epoxy, thickened with talc or fumed silica (cabosil)and re-fair and re-sand the damaged area. If the areas are large, you may want to add some glass fabric to help strengthen the patches).

Paul

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2008 : 14:38:54

OK, I'll be the guy who asks the dumb question... Which boats have lead keels?

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2008 : 16:28:20

Yours, for one--I think... I don't know the exact year of the change from iron fins to encased lead fins--something like 1983. You can tell by looking at the keel bolts--stainless steel bolts and nuts say a lead keel, while rusty mild steel bolts and nuts say cast iron. The wings appeared during 1987, replacing the swing. Earlier WK C-25s are retrofitted swingers.

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KiteKraemer
Navigator

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191 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2008 : 01:53:31

What a blow to the keel! I wonder if a swing keel would have pivoted over the obstacle, er, granite boulder with less damage? Or possibly catastrophic damage?

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2008 : 11:09:50

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I wonder if a swing keel would have pivoted over the obstacle<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I think the answer to that is 'depends'.
I've had several run-ins with imovable objects below the surface. My strategy is to raise the keel as fast as possible, or at least to take up the slack on the cable - because if the the keel swings, I want to be able to control the rate at which the keel returns to the full down position.
I think the major factor is the speed of the boat.
So far, I've hit rock, mud, sand and a log and all I've had to show for it is lost paint. Just another reason I love my swinger.

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Deric
Captain

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USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2008 : 12:04:47

I hit bottom three times within 15 seconds month ago with my swing keel. I cranked the keel up and sailed on. I am curious to see what battle scars my keel received. It's a good thing that I am the Docter. Living in the NorthEast means I have all winter (6 months) to nurse any wounds ye ol' Cat has acquired.

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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.