Catalina - Capri - 25s International Assocaition Logo(2006)  
Assn Members Area · Join
h.jpg Home.
a.jpg Association Forum
s.jpg Ships Store
c.jpg Cruising
r.jpg Racing
t.jpg Technical Tips
g.jpg Photo Gallery - New
o.jpg Boat Search - Updated
m.jpg Manuals & Brochures
3rdrpt.jpg Swap Meet
l.jpg Links
f.jpg Officer Flag Line & Staff
b.jpg Bylaws & Constitution
 
1.jpg Members Area
1.jpg Join the Association
 
Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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.
 
Association Forum
Association Forum
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Forum Users | Search | FAQ
Username:
 Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

 All Forums
 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 Catalina 25 Specific Forum
 Swing Keel is stuck up Catalina 25 1983		  New Topic  Topic Locked
 Printer Friendly
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  

tc_gill
Deckhand

Member Avatar

USA
2 Posts
Initially Posted - 09/11/2011 :  20:22:16  Show Profile
While towing a pontoon boat, we were rocked hard by a speed boat coming into our marina. Horrible noise resulted, I thought from the keel.( Not to mention all the spilled stuff in the cabin.) We had the keel all the way up to go to a beach. It has a new cable and we also installed the shims to keep it stable when down. Now, keel will not fall down. The cable is loose when let down. We have kept it locked up. Got any ideas?
Terry
Edited by - tc_gill on 09/12/2011 04:04:17

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4382 Posts
Response Posted - 09/12/2011 :  05:40:53  Show Profile
Does your marina have a <i>no wake zone</i>? Did you get the registration number of the speed boat? Knocking items off your shelves is a pretty damn big wake.

The safest way to figure why the keel won't move is on a trailer, cradle or boat stands.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
9080 Posts
Response Posted - 09/12/2011 :  06:30:25  Show Profile
Not knowing how your shims are installed, it sounds like one of them was turned into a "jam". Can you get a quick lift at a marina?
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Lee Panza
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
465 Posts
Response Posted - 09/12/2011 :  07:12:47  Show Profile  Visit Lee Panza's Homepage
Considering the weight of that slug of cast iron, it's unlikely that binding at the pivot alone would prevent it from dropping. If the keel and the trunk were heavily encrusted with barnacles and/or mussels the jostling might have been enough to jam it a little higher in the trunk than what you had thought was the top of its travel.

A likely candidate for the primary cause, however, would be the turning ball where the hoist cable enters the tube from below: some owners have discovered that the ball had stopped rotating, and raising/lowering the keel had worn a deep groove in the ball that was binding the cable. If it had progressed to the point that it was about to seize, the jostling might have aggravated it enough to finish the job. It's also conceivable that the keel was raised so high that the fitting at the end of the cable became jammed in that groove when the boat was bouncing.

It may be possible to look down the tube with a small mirror and flashlight. If the cable is slack around the ball you might be able to rule this out. However, if the ball or the fitting are the primary factor it'll have to be fixed on the hard; even just a kink where the cable goes into that fitting would substantially reduce the strength of that critically important cable.

Like OJ, I'd strongly advise you to haul the boat and play with it on the hard, with support under the keel to prevent it from dropping very far once you do dislodge it.

Good luck.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

Members Avatar

USA
3758 Posts
Response Posted - 09/12/2011 :  11:08:27  Show Profile
Definitely do it on the hard. It is difficult to jam a keel at the pivot end, the fulcrum of a lever, do to the extremely high loads involved, but not so difficult at the lifting end since the pivot carries almost half the weight when the keel is retracted. Put it on the trailer or stands because it may take a little while to fix it
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

tc_gill
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
2 Posts
Response Posted - 09/12/2011 :  11:17:23  Show Profile
Thanks so much for all the ideas. We are looking for a trailor now. Lake is dropping quick and we don't have much time. We want to sail!
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page
  Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  
 New Topic  Topic Locked
 Printer Friendly
Jump To:
Association Forum © since 1999 Catalina Capri 25s International Association Go To Top Of Page
Powered By: Snitz Forums 2000 Version 3.4.06
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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.