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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Fixed keel to long.

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howard
Deckhand

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USA
1 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/13/2004 : 22:08:27

I currently have a fixed keel 1981 Catalina 25. Due to the shallow water where I keep the boat anchored I am sometimes unable to sail if the water level drops more than three inches. I was entertaining the thought of cutting off six inches of the keel. Has anyone ever done this? Should I just trade the boat for a swing keel boat? Does anyone in the Oriental NC area have a swing keel boat they would like to trade for a fixed Keel boat?

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oldsalt
Admiral

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USA
578 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2004 : 22:44:06

Cutting six inches off the bottom of the keel would remove a lot of weight down low where it is most important, and adversely affect the righting arm. This would likely decrease the stability of the boat to the point where it would be be dangerous under some conditions. I wouldn't do it since it represents a substantial departure from the original design.

You have the option of retro-fitting your boat with a winged keel, but personally, if I was in your position, I'd try to sell or trade for a swing or preferrably a wing keeled boat which might be more cost effective.

I'm certain that others will disagree.

Edited by - on

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 08/14/2004 : 00:01:09

I suppose that a fin keel could be converted to a wing or bulb keel, which would reduce the draft, but designing such a conversion would require intimate knowlege of the internal structure of the existing keel. Where would you get that know-how? I am not at all sure that Catalina would willingly part with detailed design data like that, especially if they somehow found out why you wanted it! If I was Frank Butler, I think I would not want to see one of my boats undergo such an untested, major modification.

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 08/14/2004 : 10:03:42

Howard,

I've done the wing conversion and it is designed to fit inside the swing trunk, something that the fin keel doesn't have. I can't imagine it ever working.
The suggestion that a person would cut off several inches of the fin boggles the mind.
Best idea seems to be trading up to a wing.

Val on Calista # 3936
Patchogue, N.Y.

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Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 08/14/2004 : 10:13:06

Hi Howard,

I've not met anyone who performed the keel surgery you suggest on a C25. However, a fellow used to have a San Juan 7.7 at my marina who had tried to make his fin keel into a wing keel by cutting off about a foot of the original keel and bolting on a triangular shaped sheet of 1/4" stainless steel. It was a complete disaster!!! The boat's original sailplan overpowered the ballast in what was left in the keel in breezes of less than 10 knots. The boat was actually dangerous to have on the water with only bare poles in winds of 20 knots.

As Val said..."Best idea seems to be trading up to a wing."

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

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ajniemira
Deckhand

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18 Posts

Response Posted - 08/14/2004 : 10:33:30

I seem to remember reading in one of the sailing mags about someone cutting off the bottom of a fixed keel to reduce draft. The weight has to be replaced and in this case they added a lead bulb to make up for the lost weight. This was a much larger boat on a C25 I think the cost would be prohibitive.

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oldsalt
Admiral

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USA
578 Posts

Response Posted - 08/14/2004 : 11:16:29

Some mods are best left to naval architects, and even then there are no guarantees and plenty of failed rsults leading to even more expensive fixes. Our boats' dollar value just does't warrant the expense of going about this type of customization the right way.

Trade or sell for a vessel that suits the area where you sail. Although you'll need to throw some dollars into the deal it's your least expensive option. Good luck.

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 08/14/2004 : 11:28:21

Here's a how-to article describing exactly what you're proposing to do.
(you may have already seen this)

http://www.marsmetal.com/html/sail_article.htm

These folks make 'bolt-on' keel bulbs, wings etc.

Note that the article covers the conversion of a much larger and more expensive boat than a C25.

As you've surmised and other posters have suggested, Selling/trading your boat and getting a swinger or a wing is probably more cost effective approach to your problem.
Having a trailerable boat opens a lot of other cruising venues too.

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ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 08/15/2004 : 13:35:51

After a lifetime of blood, sweat and tears I say EVERY time I would have been better to spend the money on a boat that already had everything done that I ended up doing--instead of sailing/cruising/fishing, whatever. My advice--sell, and buy a wing. But if you LOVE a project.......God bless, ron srsk Orion SW FL

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5909 Posts

Response Posted - 08/15/2004 : 14:24:15

There must be a cutting tool that could cut through a solid chunk of cast iron about 6+ inches thick and 4 ft. long, but who would have such a thing, and what would it cost? When you factor in that cost, it might be just as economical to buy the wing keel retrofit.

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Kas
Deckhand

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USA
16 Posts

Response Posted - 08/19/2004 : 21:41:41

If you do the retrofit ... don't forget to sand off the bottom paint before you epoxy the new keel to the boat!!!!

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2004 : 07:44:37

As has been mentioned in the thread already; there is no retrofit for a fin keel to wing. The hull is not shaped the same at the point of connection. The wing is specific to the swinger hull mold.

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cvwall
1st Mate

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USA
56 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2004 : 08:27:13

Best remedy is to find a mooring with greater depth; or, sell the fin and buy a wing or swing instead. Either will be simpler than surgery.

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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.