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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

How should my keel rest on the trailer?

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Arlington
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USA
196 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/14/2011 : 20:57:25

As my C-25 sits on the trailer, near the stern the bottom of my Wing Keel is about 4" higher than the other end of the keel closer to the bow. I am trying to figure out, should I jockey with the height of my pads so the bottom of the keel is resting evenly on the board that supports the keel? Or should I build up the bottom of the trailer with more wood to get the boat better seated? With the 2nd option I would be building the trailer up to match the angle of the keel.

My trailer was custom made by Sailtrailers in Columbus GA. The trailer was specially modified for a wing keel, but when I got to the boat yard and they set the boat on the trailer, they wedged pieces of 1 X 4's and 4 X 4's between the keel and the trailer to support the boat. So these pieces of wood duct taped to the trailer don't look so good. I don't want to be launching and have those motor boaters

having a good laugh as they admire my trailer. (No really I want the boat to sit right on the trailer.

From what I have been able to gather elsewhere on the forum, it sounds like the weight is supposed to rest on the keel and the pads or bunkers just hold the boat steady. If that is the case, then I can always raise the bow with the 'trailer hitch jack' so she drains alright sitting in the boat yard. Any suggestions???

God created the Seas as a blessing to Sailors.
Doug, Jenny & First Mate Taylor, Arlington TX
No. 5842 "Promise"�
1989 C25, TR/WK, Inboard Diesel,
1995 Stratos 278, 115 HP Evinrude
1978 14' Dolphin Sr.

Edited by - Arlington on 09/15/2011 20:23:07

Doc
1st Mate

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27 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2011 : 05:17:08

I've had the same experience with my '87 wing on a custom built trailer.The yard foreman told me that most keels are angled up a bit to lift the hull as it goes through the water.I had about 3" of space on the trailing edge of my wing when sitting on the trailer.So I think a space at the back of the keel is normal.I usually tap in a piece of wood after I get it on the trailer before we transport the boat. Just make sure most of the weight is on the keel and the bunks aren't oilcanning the bottom.

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John Russell
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3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2011 : 05:40:04

Mine sits flat on the trailer. The bunks are there to keep it upright, not to carry the weight.

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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2011 : 06:52:45

Catalina has said the C-25 fin keel should be the primary weight bearer--I would expect they intend the same for the wing. (The swing is somewhat different--it is supposed to support itself on a trailer by being lowered after the boat is secured. The hull is supported by the bunks.)

It sounds to me like they designed the wing with a slight downward angle of attack, possibly to counteract leeway when the boat is heeled (at which point the wing becomes part of the lateral resistance and its angle of attack will be to windward). If that's the case, then the wing won't be level when the boat is level.

Your only real long-term problem on a trailer is making sure the cockpit drains (especially for us northerners). A carpenter's level on the sole (or a bucket of water) will give you the answer. A trailer jack (or some blocks under the tongue) should be able to adjust this when the trailer is not on the hitch...

However, for towing, I would be concerned about having all of the weight on the forward edge of the keel rather than somewhat evenly distributed fore-and-aft, since this will affect the forces against the hull. So minimally, blocking the aft section of the wing might be wise, as Doc describes above.

BTW, welcome Doc! Who are you, where are you, whatcha got... ?

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 04/15/2011 06:58:25

pastmember
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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2011 : 07:51:47

One of my wing trailers seemed to anticipate ramp angles, but I did not like the bow down effect either... but all of the wing was supported because the pads were adjusted for the bow down load.

Edited by - pastmember on 04/15/2011 08:01:44

Arlington
Navigator

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USA
196 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2011 : 08:30:56

My trailer has the pads set opposite, bow up, stern down. Your photo puts a whole new light on it.
Frank thanks for the shot of the NICE trailer. Really looks like a good set up

Edited by - on

pastmember
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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2011 : 08:53:41

You are welcome, I ended up selling this trailer to a guy with an S2 28, it was just overkill for the Catalina.

Edited by - pastmember on 04/15/2011 08:55:11

OJ
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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2011 : 15:26:32

When we had a trailer built for our 1989 wing keel, Rob Herbold at Trail-Rite explained that 60% of the boat's weight was to rest on the keel with the remaining 40% resting on the roller trains or bunks.

This picture shows the boat being lowered onto the trailer for the first time (not yet squarely positioned.) After all was said and done - the keel (relatively speaking) sits flat on the keel bunk.

Edited by - OJ on 04/16/2011 15:18:35

Doc
1st Mate

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Response Posted - 04/15/2011 : 19:04:27

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 Catalina has said the C-25 fin keel should be the primary weight bearer--I would expect they intend the same for the wing. (The swing is somewhat different--it is supposed to support itself on a trailer by being lowered after the boat is secured. The hull is supported by the bunks.)

It sounds to me like they designed the wing with a slight downward angle of attack, possibly to counteract leeway when the boat is heeled (at which point the wing becomes part of the lateral resistance and its angle of attack will be to windward). If that's the case, then the wing won't be level when the boat is level.

Your only real long-term problem on a trailer is making sure the cockpit drains (especially for us northerners). A carpenter's level on the sole (or a bucket of water) will give you the answer. A trailer jack (or some blocks under the tongue) should be able to adjust this when the trailer is not on the hitch...

However, for towing, I would be concerned about having all of the weight on the forward edge of the keel rather than somewhat evenly distributed fore-and-aft, since this will affect the forces against the hull. So minimally, blocking the aft section of the wing might be wise, as Doc describes above.

BTW, welcome Doc! Who are you, where are you, whatcha got... ?

Edited by - on

Doc
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Response Posted - 04/15/2011 : 19:25:02

In answer to stinkpotter I'm a river sailer on Lake Pepin on the mighty Miss. which divides Minnesota and Wisconsin. I maintain an '87 wing std rig # 5689 and have sailed it for eight years. I have been using this site for at least 6 yrs and presently a member of the association.Recently I have just started to post on the forum.Getting back to the thread topic my boat sits level on the trailer but the trailing edge of the wing keel tapers up in an airfoil shape so I think it would be hard for it to completely sit flat on the keel.

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OJ
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4382 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2011 : 15:20:22

A correctly built and adjusted trailer does not need blocking - period.

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Scooter
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USA
228 Posts

Response Posted - 04/17/2011 : 08:24:16

FWIW: Our wing keel also has about a 3-4 inch gap at the back. Most of the weight is on the keel but there's still a gap at the aft part of the keel. The bottom of our keel is not quite completely flat. It "can't" sit flat on the keel support. It seems to me that if it's solid and most of the weight is on the keel it's fine. I haven't been doing this as long as some on hte forum. Also some here trailer more often than we do. We only use our trailer twice a year. I bow to the more experienced.

I wish I had Frank's tounge extender. Our's is not quite that long and I wish we had a couple of more feet. Sorry for the unrelated comment.

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