Association Forum - more swing keel questions.

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

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

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

more swing keel questions.

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

77Gypsy
Captain

Member Avatar

USA
356 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/10/2003 : 23:37:56

Thanks for the replies when I posted about sailing close hauled with keel up, however, a few of you have written about occasions when the keel has fallen off and sank. Is this a major problem with this boat? If so, is it common? If so, are there any preemptive measures I can take to prevent it? What has caused other to fall off and sink?

Thank You

Steven de Filippis
77 catalina 25 - Gypsy

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/10/2003 : 23:54:53

There isn't a problem of the keel falling off of the swing-keeled boat, but there is a slight possibility of the keel cable breaking while the keel is retracted which could send the 1,500lb keel crashing into the keel trunk. The resulting damage to the keel trunk could cause the boat to sink.

This isn't really that big of a concern if the relatively inexpensive periodic preventative maintenance is performed on the keel cable and other associative keel hardware.

<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>Don Lucier<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2cc32b3127cce92e981259d130000001010" border=0>
North Star SR/FK

Edited by - on

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2003 : 01:11:00

A few basic safety rules for swing keel Catalina 25:
1. Don't leave the keel retracted (rasied) any longer than necessary to get the boat on and off it's trailer.
2. When the boat is on the trailer, the keel needs to be resting completely on the trailer, cable completely slack.
3. Never leave the boat in a slip with the keel raised. If you have a depth problem at low tide that is causing
you to raise the keel when leaving the boat to go home, get a deeper slip! Don't leave the boat with the keel up!
4. Replace the cable every 3 to 4 years in fresh water, every 2 years or every haulout in salt water (my personal opinion). The Catalina factory's "official" position on this issue is that swing keel Catalina 22's and 25's should not be kept in salt water marinas in the first place, so the cable should be closely monitored. If your marina has a serious problem with electrolysis, replacement of the keel hardware may be needed at even more frequent intervals.
5. Inspect the keel pivot pin as often as possible (a more difficult job than the cable, but necessary), replace when visibly worn.
6. Try to remove and inspect the keel cable eye bolt that is screwed into the keel. You probably won't be able to as these tend to get rust-welded and impossible to unscrew, but be aware that this fitting is sometimes the failure point of a keel free-fall accident. If the threads in the cast iron are corroding inside where you can't see it, this fitting will eventually pull out. I think this eye-bolt corrosion is the specific and primary reason that the factory says to not put swingers in salt water marinas. When the keel is fully raised, this eyebolt and the cable and swage fitting are supporting 750 pounds. If the eyebolt threads are rusting out, this weight will probably strip them sooner or later and the keel will take a plunge.

Larry Charlot
Catalina 25 #1205 "Quiet Time"
Sacramento, CA

Edited by - on

Gary B.
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2003 : 02:43:28

These are great pieces of advice you have gotten. I would follow them and do some maintenance; it's not expensive, nor all that difficult to change the cable, etc. But do not panic, or think that these keels are a death trap. I have a '78 that usually lives in freshwater and sees salt for only up to 2-3 weeks each summer. I have gone 8 years or more without changing cables, although since reading this forum I expect to do it more often. ALL boats need maintenance, and don't forget that fin keels sometimes fall off when bolts fail, etc. It is not unheard of. Appreciate the advantages in the swinger, maintain it periodically, and you will have years of fun. I am happy with my old boat.

Gary B.
Encore! #685 SK/SR

Edited by - on

Gary B.
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2003 : 02:50:42

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2003 : 08:04:00

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>

4. Replace the cable every 3 to 4 years in fresh water, every 2 years or every haulout in salt water (my personal opinion). The Catalina factory's "official" position on this issue is that swing keel Catalina 22's and 25's should not be kept in salt water marinas in the first place, so the cable should be closely monitored. If your marina has a serious problem with electrolysis, replacement of the keel hardware may be needed at even more frequent intervals.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Some great advice Larry, I would note however that many owners have had the original cable in place for 20 years or more so don't get scared of the cable (not that this is the way to go). In both salt and freshwater, inspect the cable for "meat hooks" regularly. Replace upon finding those as opposed to following a timetable. A monthly inspection should do fine with this.

D. Wolff - "The Flying Wasp" #401 sr/sk
Chief Measurer C-25/250 National Assn.
<img src="http://www.flags.com/dreamimages/Flags/measurer.jpg" border=0>

Edited by - on

LeighMarie
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
188 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2003 : 13:03:54

We got our 1985 C25 last year and before I got it in the water I read about many horror stories about the keel falling, the boat sinking, or even hearing a lot of clunking of the keel while sailing. (People on this forum can be scarey when they want to be.) I replaced my keel cable, the turning ball, hose, etc., and had absolutely no problems with it. My slip last year was such that I need to crank it half way up each time, and it went without incident. I don't hear it a bit while sailing, and I am perfectly happy with it. I also like the flexibility it gives me in cranking it up when I need to (OK, OK, I did bottom it out twice - raised the keel and I was off and sailing again). I'm a fan of swingers! I may be in the minority, but I love it!

Dave & Sharon on "Leigh-Marie"
Hull #5128

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

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.