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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Swing Keel..

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WindChantress
Deckhand

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USA
3 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/24/2004 : 21:51:03

Novice question for all the experts out there. Can someone give me an idea of how one would know how much to lower the swing keel? Can you damage the boat by lowering it too much? I am a new owner and the few times I used the boat I was uneasy with the system. Plus all the problems I've read about here. Please don't mention a conversion unless you intend to loan me 4k.
I need to learn to live with what I got. Plus just spent 1k on replacing the bushings and cable.

Thanks, and Happy Thanksgiving

Edited by - on

Dave Laux
Captain

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318 Posts

Response Posted - 11/24/2004 : 22:06:52

Lower until the cable goes just slightly slack. The keel needs to enter the space above and forward of the pivot pin to mate with the second point of its support system. I would guess that one of the ways to damage the boat would be to sail in large seas with the keel partially lowered . An other way to break things is to have the cable completely slack, or broken, and then to partially or fully raise the keel and drop it. Dave, with a wing.

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WindChantress
Deckhand

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USA
3 Posts

Response Posted - 11/24/2004 : 22:14:24

Thanks Dave,
For future reference is it worth getting the conversion?

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Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 11/24/2004 : 22:29:34

The most recent debate about the keel conversion is just below: http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8031

Brooke

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 11/24/2004 : 23:19:20

As Dave said, the proper sailing position is to have a small amount of slack in the keel cable. FYI, the standard Catalina 25 winch and cable should require 27 to 28 full turns of the winch handle to raise the keel completely from the zero-slack point. If you are cranking fast, slow down as you pass 25 turns, so that you don't slam the keel hard against the hull as it reaches the top of travel. This could possibly overstreess the cable assembly, the winch, or even the companionway step that the winch is bolted to.
As for the "value" of doing the swing-to-wing conversion, it depends on whether you think you like this boat enough to keep it for a long time. You are unlikely to recover the $4000 cost of the conversion at resale, especially if the boat is a pre-1986. Does your boat have aluminum-framed cabin windows? If it does, it is a Mk. I or Mk. II - personally I would not do the conversion on one of the "older" boats. If it has flush-mount Lexan cabin windows, it is a Mk. III, which makes it somewhat more likely that you can recover some part of the keel conversion cost. Since you just spent 10 BU's to replace all of the keel hardware, I would just stick with what you've got. You won't have to drop the keel bracket again for many years, and the cable should be good for at least 2 years in salt water or 5 in fresh water.

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Esteban
Navigator

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139 Posts

Response Posted - 11/26/2004 : 11:52:48

Two cents,

I too have an 81 swing keel and I just finished my first year sailing it and my first year learning to sail. I will say that after 300+ nautical miles, I am just thrilled about the swing keel. To answer your question, I say lower it all the way. Just like Dave mentioned, the keel needs to sit inside the trunk for support. I personally lower the keel all the way until the cable feels slack and the put a little bit of tension in it, just enough to get that humm. I will say that on a couple of occassions on long legs motoring about, I tried raising the keel a little over half way thinking that I could reduce some drag. I found the boat to crab to one side. Also keep in mind that you always want the keel lower than the rudder in case you run into something. The keel can take a bit of banging around, certainly more so than the rudder.

I think, and now subscribe to the thought that anytime the boat is moving the keel is all the way down - only two positions on or off (up or down). I will also say that on the three or so occassions that I ran aground, it was a very cool thing to just raise the keel a bit and change course. For as nervous as I used to be about the keel dropping or the humming of the cable, I've come to learn the swing keel is a beautiful thing. My two cents.

Esteban

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Jay Schkloven
1st Mate

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USA
84 Posts

Response Posted - 11/27/2004 : 12:08:56

My two cents. The swing keel seems to work better cranked down and then with two full turns on the winch. The hum is the free knot meter. I purchased a new winch, ball, and cable from Catalina and have never had a problem. I inspect the cable during the season. I replace the cable and ball every 3 years because I feel comfortable with a new cable. SOme folks have 10 years on their cables. I also put the new swing cable connection on the keel. This seems to allow the cable to swing at a better angle. I also have pulled the keel up
and painted a yellow mark ( on the cable) at the spot where the cable is at the level of the winch. This way I can see if the keel is up the correct height when I am approaching the slip.

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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.