Association Forum - Swing Keel Resting on Mud Bottom

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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Swing Keel Resting on Mud Bottom

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rustynbigd
1st Mate

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31 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/19/2003 : 17:58:36

I have a C25 swing keel on a lake in north texas. The level at my lakehouse is down to about 2.5 feet and i believe it is possible that at some point the keel will be resting on the muddy bottom, although that is not the case yet.

Can someone tell me if this is dangerous for the boat or what damage I might expect from this?

Rusty
1980 SKSR #2039
Lindesfarne

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 11/19/2003 : 18:26:46

rustynbigd,

If the lake bottom is deep soft mud and there's no wave action while the keel is on (in) the bottom, then I doubt there will be any harm done. (Except for your boat being temporarily but thoroughly stuck.) What I'd worry about is the raised swing keel repeatedly bumping on a hard bottom in waves and banging up into the keel trunk and/or shock loading the cable and pivot bearing bolts. That could cause some very expensive damage in short order. More specifically, the swing keel could break away from the boat at one or both ends, and/or could punch up through the keel trunk causing the boat to flood.

Unless your boat is in a very sheltered location, and you are quite sure there's nothing hard down there in the first couple of feet of mud, I'd try to avoid letting the boat settle on the bottom. If you do let it take the bottom, then I'd suggest removing the rudder until the boat is floating free again.

-- Leon Sisson

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cch
Navigator

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202 Posts

Response Posted - 11/19/2003 : 21:53:58

I would try to keep your keel from resting on the bottom if possible. I realize this sounds simple for someone not dealing with shallow dockage but try for what you can get.

Leon's suggestion to remove the rudder if it comes to your boat resting on the bottom is an excellent one. Easy to accomplish and could avoid damage. In our part of Florida shallow water is a given.
In a effort to gain depth at our dock I extended the dock out into the water away from the shore 4 feet which made quite a difference. I have been experimenting with dredging muck out from the keel area (frustrating and temporary I'm afraid) Even with an extended dock our boat (swing keel at the time) has rested on the bottom several times during the low tide, winter season. Although I am not sure this contributed to our eventual need to either fix the keel trunk or convert to wing keel, I really feel it was was hard on the keel trunk to rest on the bottom. I would encourage you to take any measures that are reasonable to avoid sitting on the bottom.

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2003 : 11:51:17

Don't let the keel rest on the bottom, especially any time the boat is left unattended. Even very slight wave action could cause damage to the keel trunk if the keel is stuck on the bottom and the boat hull is being moved around by waves or boat wakes. Keep in mind that the entire mass of the boat hull and keel comes together at the keel pivot bracket, which is held in by 4 very small bolts that screw into metal plates embedded into the fiberglass. It does not take much banging around to damage the keel trunk, when you consider that the boat hull weighs almost 4000 pounds, and the keel weighs 1500!

If your lake is about to drop to a level where the boat is going to be grounded, better haul out for the winter, or at least until the water level comes back up.

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2003 : 12:10:05

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by lcharlot
 

If your lake is about to drop to a level where the boat is going to be grounded, better haul out for the winter, or at least until the water level comes back up.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

If you can't haul then at least moor farther out.

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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.