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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Boat resting on fixed keel

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eguevara
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USA
111 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/02/2011 : 10:21:51

I'm out at my boat today. It is till stuck in the cove until we get some rain.
The water level has actually gone down a few inches so the boat is somewhat resting on the fixed keel. Should I be worried? Should I move it back some so that it may float more and rest on the keel less?

Thanks in advance for the advise.

-eddy

1986 C25 SR FK #5152
http://knoteasy.tumblr.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eddyguevara/sets/72157626204345986/

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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2011 : 11:22:28

If it's upright, you should be fine. By comparison, in winter storage, the fin keel should be holding some 90+% of the weight, with stands or cradle merely keeping it upright and steady. Are you in a slip where you can tie off to both sides, not quite taut, but just enough that the lines will help prevent her from tipping if the water goes lower? That might not be a bad idea. Just do it so any further settling won't put excessive tension on the lines--somebody could get hurt trying to undo them, or if one parts. Then check the lines as frequently as possible till you're floating again.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 04/02/2011 11:26:13

eguevara
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USA
111 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2011 : 11:28:11

Lines are good.. Just making sure that the weight on the keel was not going to be a problem.

-eddy

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dlucier
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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2011 : 13:58:24

As Dave stated, as long as its upright you should be fine. The top photo is my boat during low water and the bottom pic is a friend's fin keel C25. My keel is buried to the hilt in the muck with only a few inches of water at best. Both boats came away unscathed.

Edited by - dlucier on 04/02/2011 14:02:46

jhinton
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USA
123 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2011 : 15:24:32

Don- Is that the Lake Erie Metropark Marina?

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2011 : 15:51:14

Yes, it is. Are you around here?

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jhinton
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USA
123 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2011 : 17:35:53

I am. We kept ours on the trailer in the lot last summer since we had just gotten it a few months earlier. When were those pictures taken? We live in Ypsilanti. When do you plan on launching?

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dlucier
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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2011 : 18:27:02

The pictures were taken in 2009 at the end of September, around the time these things usually occur towards the end of the season. As to launching, I usually aim for around May 1st and looking at the calendar, April 30th might be a possibility, depending on if the weather cooperates and allows me to get my pre-launch work completed. The countdown has begun!

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treeder65
1st Mate

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USA
50 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2011 : 11:12:25

Regarding resting on the fin keel, can anyone tell me whether the keel should rest flat on the trailer? When it is flat, the boat is not level. If I use a wood block canted so the rear of the keel is about 1 1/2" higher than the front, the boat sits level. Not really a big deal, it just makes my initial cleaning easier if everything drains to the bilge. The PO left me a full holding tank and lots of odor.

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treeder65
1st Mate

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USA
50 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2011 : 11:24:52

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2011 : 19:24:19

Were those pics taken during a seiche?

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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2011 : 20:34:19

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by treeder65
 Regarding resting on the fin keel, can anyone tell me whether the keel should rest flat on the trailer? When it is flat, the boat is not level.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">The first question is whether the trailer is level. Do you have something like this?

Generally, the issue whether the cockpit drains, which in later models means through the transom.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 04/03/2011 20:40:57

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/04/2011 : 05:49:52

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dmpilc
 Were those pics taken during a seiche?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yes.

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treeder65
1st Mate

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USA
50 Posts

Response Posted - 04/04/2011 : 16:58:46

Dave,
The trailer is level. I saw a few pics here where the fin keel isvraised about 3"-4" in the back. I might have it a bit too low in the bow, being that there now is almost no tongue weight. The keel moves to the stern as I lowered the bow to make the boat level. Seems like 3" - 4" is right; the 6" I have it is too much. The trailer kind of levels itself on the double axle wheels.

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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2011 : 18:53:18

No tongue weight??

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treeder65
1st Mate

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USA
50 Posts

Response Posted - 04/14/2011 : 17:45:11

Doug,
I didn't realize it until I saw the term somewhere else on this forum, but I guess I breached etiquette by "hijacking" this topic instead of starting a new one for my specific question. Probably no big deal since nobody said anything, but in looking at your question (and mine) it did occur to me that a separate topic with the "trailer position" or level as part of the topic heading might get more responses. Just a thought. From what I know, it does appear that the majority of the boat weight should be on the keel and the pads are for stabilizing as you said. My only concerns were that I was trying to get the bilge drained and was looking for a more "dragless" towing position than it's current seat with the bow very high and thus increasing the wind resistance tremendously. It does however drain the cockpit while connected to the tow vehicle in that position.

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Arlington
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USA
196 Posts

Response Posted - 04/14/2011 : 20:32:48

Tom, I also recently found myself 'hijacking' someone else's post on another forum and got off scott free. Whew, that was close....It seems I unintentionally joined in on their parade, with an off topic post. I then caught myself feeling guilty. Oh well, how about we get on the right track?
I will start a new thread, for all of us trailer sailers with my question. I will label it "How should my keel rest on the trailer?" 
Tom & my fellow hijackers Can you revise and post your response on the new thread? I looked a quite a few threads & haven't found anything addressing how the boat should sit on the trailer. So the new forum (thread) should be good.Thanks

Edited by - Arlington on 04/14/2011 21:49:39

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