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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Swing Keel 'Hinge' Mounting Bolts

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/12/2003 : 00:09:31

I'm just getting around to lowering the front of the keel so I can finish my bottom job. Tonight I wire brushed off the bronze plates (they had a layer of crud on them)

To my surprise, instead of having heavy slotted heads or allen heads, I had regular hex head bolts.. but there is so little clearance between them and the hinge plates that a regular socket won't go in. (bolt looks to be 9/16 across the flats")

Tomorrow I'm going to get a thin-wall 6 point socket (if I can find them around here) and see if it will go in the hole. If not, I guess I'll have to keep grinding the socket down until it will fit. That or make the holes bigger with a dremel & small milling bit...

I suspect I only have one shot at them, if the bolts round off, I'm really doomed. Dunno, a person might be able to cut a slot in them with the dremel or some such.. (don't want to think about it right now)

Can't see any other way to get them out. Will welcome any suggestions from folks who have run into this little snag.

Currently maintaining two holes in the water...'77 Venture 23 and new to the family,
'78 Catalina 25

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Ed Montague
Captain

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USA
499 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2003 : 01:13:47

Bruce, When I last lowered my keel I found the same situation. I scrapped the areas around the bolts heads, found the skinniest socket in my collection of odds and ends and then lightly tapped the socket over the bolt head. Worked fine and they came loose very easily. I don't think mine had ever been removed before. Good luck and if you are going to lower the keel down enough to clean and paint the whole thing be sure to use the threaded rod method. I believe it is explained in the tech section.

Ed Montague on 'Yahoo'
1978 #765 SK, Stnd, Dinette ~_/)~

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2003 : 10:24:07

Removing my keel bolts has turned into an adventure. (using polite language),

We probably have a bit different hinge casting, I had to grind a socket down to get into the bolt recess. 3 of the bolts came out pretty easily. The 4th bolt is tight... and the thin metal on the ground out socket broke open.

I used a little dremel-style grinder to get more room around the 4th bolt... now have to get a new socket and give it a go tonight. Hopefully it will come out ok... and a PO didn't epoxy it in or some such. (don't wanna think about that prospect)

A wing keel conversion is looking more attractive all the time.

Currently maintaining two holes in the water...'77 Venture 23 and new to the family,
'78 Catalina 25

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2003 : 22:09:24

Whew ! It came out ok. A little burr bit on the dremel finally removed enough material for a full strength socket.

Applying a new a SK 6 point socket and some torque did the trick. I sure was relieved when the bolt started backing out ok.

I noticed the threads on the 2 bolts I've completely removed are quite 'sharp'. Result of 25 years of 'crevice corrosion' ???

Just ordered a new hinge kit... there went a hundred bucks I hadn't planned on. But with a 1500 lb chunk of iron, it's better safe than sorry. Cable, clevis, keel hanger, pin, all will be new when I'm done.

Currently maintaining two holes in the water...'77 Venture 23 and new to the family,
'78 Catalina 25

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mroettersr
Navigator

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USA
148 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2003 : 00:46:27

Since you're doing a pretty complete job, did you happen to see how much play there was between the pin and the keel itself? i.e. Was the hole for the keel pin worn oblong? I did the complete job on my former Catalina 22 which eliminated most of the klunk but not entirely since the hole in the keel was significantly larger than the pin. I didn't want to wrestle a 600 pound keel off the boat to bore the hole out and insert a bushing. With the 1500# weight of the C25 keel, it's an even greater challenge. This spring I did epoxy shims to each side of the top of the keel to reduce some of the play I have on my '83 C25. It seems to have helped. Even with your complete job, you may want to do the same if the keel pin hole is worn and you don't want to remove the keel.

Mike Roetter
'83 C25 #3568 SK/SR
Marblehead on Lake Erie

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2003 : 10:56:26

Good advice, I'll lower the keel this weekend and see what shape the hole is in. I'll have to get the rust/corrosion out of the way to really find out what sort of clearance I have.

Eventually I'd like to encapsulate the keel in epoxy, but right now I'm pushing to get the V23 out of the water and the new boat splashed by mid-July. I'd really like to get a few hours on her and see what other problems/additions/corrections I want/need to make.

The pre-splash list..

Bottom Job (90%)
New Keel cable, retainer (done)
Keel Hanger, Pin, Fasteners etc (in progress)
New through hull for sink drain (in progress)
Spreader Socket Upgrade
Refinish all exterior teak (done)
Re-mount/re-bed winches (done)
New Depthsounder/Speedlog (purchased)
New motor mount (in progress)

It was a horribly wet spring here and I didn't get as much done as I wanted earlier in the season. Catch up time.

Currently maintaining two holes in the water...'77 Venture 23 and new to the family,
'78 Catalina 25

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steephen
Navigator

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100 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2003 : 19:56:26

I found that most of what was preventing me from getting the socket (a good auto parts store one) on the bolt heads was paint; I tapped it off with a sharp screwdriver and the socket went on fine. But then the yard told me they didn't want me doing the work there. I have to wait until fall and a new yard to inspect the pin. Question: everyone mentions the hole becoming oblong, but there's plenty of keel metal there. Does the pin ever wear in two?
Hoping for splashdown mid-July in "Little Wing."
Stephen Z.

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mroettersr
Navigator

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USA
148 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2003 : 23:56:54

I've heard of the pin wearing on the Catalina 22 but when I dropped my keel down on mine, the pin was in near perfect condition but the keel hole was oblong. The keel is soft metal in comparison to the pin, so I don't think I would be too concerned with the pin failing but it does bear inspection.

Mike Roetter
'83 C25 #3568 SK/SR
Marblehead on Lake Erie

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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.