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New Keel Hangers Same As Old Keel Hangers

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sethp001
Mainsheet C-25 Tech Editor

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814 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/25/2012 : 20:08:38

I bought new keel hangers in the kit from Catalina Direct. They say the new hangers are oversized and must be ground down to fit. Anybody know why the new keel hangers in the Keel Hanger Casting Kit are the same size as my old keel hangers? Catalina Direct doesn't have a straight answer. See photo here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/81052370@N03/7445103330/in/set-72157630291701948/ New keel hanger is on the left.

With the old hangers, I have a 1/4" gap (total, both sides combined, not each) between the keel and the hangers. I do have some pivot pin wear, but not sure if its from side-to-side motion or lifting and lowering movement. See photo here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/81052370@N03/7445167458/in/set-72157630291829992/

I think I'm going to replace the pin even though it is not much worn, just for piece of mind. I also picked up some 1" stainless steel washers that I could use to reduce the gap. I don't have a Catalina Direct Handbook. Anybody know what gap they recommend between the hangers and the keel?

Thanks.

Seth
"Outlier" 1987 Catalina 25 SR/SK/Traditional Interior #5541
"Zoo" 1977 Morgan Out Island 30
"Nomad" 1980 Prindle 16
"Lost" 1988 Catalina Capri 14.2 (sold - yay!)
"Marine Tex 1" Unknown Origin POS 8' Fiberglass Dinghy
https://whichsailboat.com/2014/07/27/catalina-25-review/

Edited by - sethp001 on 06/26/2012 06:16:00

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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4593 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2012 : 07:36:15

Be glad they are the same size. I did have to grind down the hangers on my C-22 when I replaced them several years ago. It was a pain and added expense to the repair. If you don't have the keel spacer pads that attach to the keel itself, I do recommend buying them while you have the boat out for repairs. They minimize side-to-side keel wobble.

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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3758 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2012 : 20:08:39

My approach was two stainless washers to rest against the hangers and two thin nylon washers against the keel ( one on each side). The nylon sticks against the rough keel and slides on the smooth stainless, and the stainless washer offers a larger bearing surface than the keel hangers. It is a tight fit, but tight is good and has worked very well for me. If you use the spacer pads instead, you might want to drill and tap the keel to use flathead screws in the pads as several people have reported finding no glued on pads at season's end.

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TCurran
Admiral

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USA
588 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2012 : 03:27:54

"If you use the spacer pads instead, you might want to drill and tap the keel to use flathead screws in the pads as several people have reported finding no glued on pads at season's end."

Agree, my glues ons didn't last three months.

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cat25
Navigator

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140 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2012 : 03:47:15

I did the same job on my cat 22. The CD keel hangers were slightly different. I ordered the hangers from catalina yachts and they were a the same. Good luck Ken

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cat25
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140 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2012 : 03:53:38

PS the hangers had to be taken down in width. They are made wider so just one spacer on each side is needed. This should eliminate the side keel movement. They worked well.

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sethp001
Mainsheet C-25 Tech Editor

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814 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2012 : 07:25:14

Ken, that's the thing: the new keel hangers are the same width as the old keel hangers.

I ended up talking to someone at Catalina, who told me that the tolerances for the cast iron swing keels were terrible, and that my boat probably just got a thinner keel and so the hangers where not made thinner when they were installed at the factory. He said that he always imagined a couple of guys melting down engine blocks on a beach in Mexico to cast the keels. When sanding off the old finish on my keel, I discovered an imprint "M E X " (the "x" was incomplete though), and you can tell the cast was pretty bad and had a lot of Bondo or some other metal filler in it. I'm fairing the keel before repainting.

This same guy at Catalina said that the space between my keel and the hangers is at the upper end of what they suggest, but should be OK.

Thanks for the advise on screwing the spacers down. I was going to install them as well, but because its taking me forever to drill the hole for the zinc anode, I may just skip installing them until next summer. I will also skip installing the washers - I wouldn't want the spacers to fall off and have the force of the keel stressing the keel hangers on a heel.

What did you guys think of the amount of keel pin wear?

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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3758 Posts

Response Posted - 06/30/2012 : 11:08:04

Thought I posted this already: Slightly worn, but I would replace it anyway since the keel is off unless the hole in the keel is worn. It should be a smooth, sliding fit, but not loose enough to wobble. I posted how I sleeved my keel with a 1/2" drill and epoxy several years ago. It really isn't a bad job - waiting for the slow curing, very high strength epoxy to cure made the job stretch over two days. The hangers are designed to handle the lateral loads, the pads are an aftermarket addition. Still can't find my original post, but there is a description here: http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=22300 I can email you a more comprehensive description if you are interested.

Drilling: Did you drill a pilot hole first? I think I started with 1/8, then maybe 3/16 before the final 1/4. Generous cutting oil, moderate speed and back out frequently to remove the chips. It should go quickly with moderate pressure.

Edited by - Dave5041 on 06/30/2012 11:39:52

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