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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

keel bolts

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andrew cook
Deckhand

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5 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/10/2012 : 13:18:10

One of the keel bolts broke on my C 25....port side front. She's on the trailer, pre-season. Has anyone had any experience with this repair? I worry about seizing and not being able to get broken or others out.
Any advice and or input would be appreciated....Are there things to do that will make unseizing the bolts easier?

Edited by - on

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2012 : 13:25:44

Andrew, What exactly are you trying to do? Are you trying to remove/replace them and broke one? Also need some info on year/type of keel etc.

Edited by - islander on 04/10/2012 13:27:24

JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2012 : 13:28:49

Is this a fixed keel or swing keel?

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2012 : 13:38:23

From the clues...trailerable, port side front bolt, and it being a removable bolt (fixed keel bolts aren't removable)... he appears to have a problem with one of the swing keel hanger bolts.

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andrew cook
Deckhand

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5 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2012 : 13:42:56

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by andrew cook
 One of the keel bolts broke on my C 25....port side front. She's on the trailer, pre-season. Has anyone had any experience with this repair? I worry about seizing and not being able to get broken or others out.
Any advice and or input would be appreciated....Are there things to do that will make unseizing the bolts easier?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Edited by - on

andrew cook
Deckhand

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5 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2012 : 13:52:25

Ok..more details......swing keel...'84.....I need to repair this...ie: replace broken bolt as well as others...I sense these bolts are original to boat. So I plan on replacing them all and replacing the pivot pin, etc, as necessary and probably fairing the iron keel while its out. I probably will have a yard do the work as I have no lift available....Although I could probably manage to raise her high enough to access all areas. The yard charges $90/hour. So I thought someone may have had some experience with this project that would help in me estimate costs and whether I wanted to try it myself.

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2012 : 17:57:52

Andrew, it sort of depends on your skill level. An EZ out screw extractor would be my choice. The real challenge is drilling a hole dead center for the extractor, while under the boat, in tight quarters, while looking up. Damage the keel bolt threads and the job gets way more involved.

Edited by - OJ on 04/10/2012 18:00:08

andrew cook
Deckhand

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5 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2012 : 12:37:46

I worked on it a little this am to see how difficult getting bolts out would be..... The 3 that remain loosened easily. I suspect I could do this all myself easily. The problem remains of how to raise boat high and safely enough without lift to get access. I suspect I'll end up at the yard.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by OJ
 Andrew, it sort of depends on your skill level. An EZ out screw extractor would be my choice. The real challenge is drilling a hole dead center for the extractor, while under the boat, in tight quarters, while looking up. Damage the keel bolt threads and the job gets way more involved.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

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JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2012 : 13:26:04

Andrew,
Where are you located? One of our members, dmpilc, has a trailer you can rent. Check the swap meet.

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pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2012 : 14:49:48

Do not die. That keel weighs 1500 pounds and if it starts to fall over on its side it will not stop. Search the site for threads and be very afraid of this event.

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2012 : 19:22:32

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by andrew cook
 I worked on it a little this am to see how difficult getting bolts out would be..... The 3 that remain loosened easily. I suspect I could do this all myself easily. The problem remains of how to raise boat high and safely enough without lift to get access. I suspect I'll end up at the yard.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by OJ
 Andrew, it sort of depends on your skill level. An EZ out screw extractor would be my choice. The real challenge is drilling a hole dead center for the extractor, while under the boat, in tight quarters, while looking up. Damage the keel bolt threads and the job gets way more involved.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">That's a very good sign that the remaining three loosened easily. Depending how everything is configured, it may be easier to lower the front end of the keel (say with a dolly style hydraulic car jack). . . but take every precaution.

Edited by - OJ on 04/11/2012 19:23:11

andrew cook
Deckhand

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5 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2012 : 14:03:56

Thanks guys.......I suspect I'll end up having boat yard do the work.
Might be a bit too dicey to complete without proper lift. Since the bolts seem to be not seized the yard bill should be minimal (relatively speaking) compared to a hospital bill should things go wrong.

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2012 : 14:59:06

There are pics available in this forum that show you how, using all-thread and floor jacks, to lower the keel into a dolly support made out of 4x4 lumber, but it is not a job for the faint-hearted. If you are not comfortable handling 1,500 lbs of cumbersome deadweight, please defer to the pros. With jacks, the proper supports to keep it from falling over, and all-thread in the other 3 bolt positions, it should be possible to lower the keel enough to get vice grips on the damaged bolt and turn it. On your trailer, how much room do you have under the keel to lower it and keep it fairly level?

Edited by - on

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