Association Forum - how do I work on the Swing Keel?

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

General Sailing Forum

how do I work on the Swing Keel?

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

clayC
Navigator

Member Avatar

USA
207 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/18/2004 : 23:16:14

1st problem I live in Utah, not a real sailing area, so good boat yards are hard to find. I dont really want to buy a set of stands because I hope not to have to use them much but I want to check out the Keel and paint the bottom. Can I build something with out dropping my baby? or will i use stands enought to justify buying them?

Clay C

Kamalla 1980 C25 SK/TR

Edited by - on

rclift
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
152 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2004 : 00:09:39

You didn't mention whether or not you had a trailer. Depending on the type of trailer you have their may be some options for moving the boat on the trailer or blocking the trailer in such way to make most of keel reachable.

Edited by - on

clayC
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
207 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2004 : 00:49:41

I have a trailer an eazy loader. I dont know a lot about it but i think i will go out and have a look.

Thanks
Clay C

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2004 : 09:13:47

Clay, IMHO you would be wise to stay away from ANY swing keel maintenance until you research the archives for all information regarding the swing. It's not that the work is not doable, it's just that it can get away from you if certain proceedures are not attended to. It definitly should not be attempted with a cavalier attitude.

Val on Calista # 3936

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2004 : 09:56:03

<font color="blue">I have a trailer an eazy loader. I dont know a lot about it but i think i will go out and have a look. - Clay</font id="blue">

Hi Clay,

I also have an EZ Loader trailer, and it makes working on the boat pretty easy (no pun intended

).

As Val mentioned, there are many threads in the archives about this subject ... you should be able to dig up a lot of info just by searching the titles of threads. I don't want to put words in Val's mouth, but I think his caution is regarding dropping the keel to inspect the pivot pin and the keel trunk. You didn't mention that project specifically, so I don't know if you plan to do anything that major. Since the keel weighs 1500#, it commands some respect. Someone devised an ingenious method for dropping the keel ... it involves the use of long threaded rods.

I don't think you've sailed your boat yet ... is that right? If not, IMHO I wouldn't go through all the work of dropping the keel until you've sailed her. If you hear a lot of "keel klunk" while sailing, then your keel pivot hole is worn, and then you would want to install a bushing and some spacers ... that's where you'd need the threaded rod method to lower the keel. I would suggest you inspect the keel and make sure it is properly mounted, but lowering it seems like overkill at this point. My boat is one of the first C-25s produced, and I've never heard the keel klunk ... yours might be perfectly fine.

When I inspected my keel, I discovered that one of the four bolts that holds the keel on was loose, and another was missing altogether. I replaced the missing bolt and made sure the others weren't loose. A word of caution regarding these bolts ... Catalina Direct told me that it is easy to strip the threads that are tapped into the bottom of the boat, so don't tighten them with gorilla strength.

As for the rest of the keel maintenance ... that involves replacing the ss cable and the turning ball. There are many threads on this, too, and there is a good diagram of the cable system in the tech manual posted on the National Association site. If your winch is shot, you might also have to replace that, too. These are straight forward projects that are fairly simple. Has your boat been in The Great Salt Lake? If so, your winch might be badly rusted ... my boat has never been in salt water, and the winch is perfectly fine.

You are lucky to have a trailer ... not just because it allows you to easily move your boat, but also because it really helps when it comes to maintenance. You'll be able to sand and paint the bottom pretty easily (but be prepared to bruise every square inch of your body). The trick to using your trailer is to prep all of the area you can get to, then slide the boat back about a foot to get the area you've missed under the banks of rollers. Again, there are threads about doing this, too. Just be careful to secure the tongue of your trailer so the trailer doesn't tip backwards when you move the boat back that foot or so.

OK ... I'm typed out ... 'hope this helps. Please feel free to ask any questions you might have ... good luck!

edited for grammar

Edited by - Buzz Maring on 07/19/2004 10:39:00

clayC
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
207 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2004 : 10:58:29

that helps a ton. I have read alot in this forum about the swing keel and may be a bit parnoid. I dont think the boat has ever seen salt water and just looking at the winch it looks great. so I think I will take your great advise and not worry so much about it. how about underwater inspections? I have been in the dive bussness for about 25 years and am pretty handy underwater.

Clay C

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2004 : 11:20:02

I believe the trick to the all thread method is to borrow a Cat 25 fin trailer.

Edited by - on

Todd Frye
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
222 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2004 : 17:16:56

Clay,
I would be happy to have a look, if you would like. I'm not an expert, but I have replaced the wench, cable, clevis pin and cable tube on my C-25. You may have heard of Dave Shearer at Sids Sports in Salt Lake City. He is a Catalina rep and knows his stuff. 801-261-0300. Fair Winds. Todd Frye

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.