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Catalina 25 Specific Forum

speaking of keel cable (zinc question)

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ddlyle
Captain

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302 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/10/2005 : 21:17:15

My swing keel stays in salt water.
God I love zincs.
I keep two 4" saucer style zincs on my keel.
They degrade nicely; my keel doesn't.

Then I thought ..hmmm .. I wonder if I could put a small round zinc (like goes on a prop shaft) on the swage end of my keel cable.

Does anyone know if there is room in the hole in the hull where the cable goes for a zinc fastened around the swage end?

Cap'n Dave
Sailing The Blues
1986 C25 sr/sk #5413

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2005 : 22:10:19

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Does anyone know if there is room in the hole in the hull where the cable goes for a zinc fastened around the swage end?

-- Cap'n Dave<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> Probably not. I agree that it would be a good idea if a zinc could fit there. Although it's hard for me to see what's where up there when my keel is fully retracted, I think the swage goes up into the pipe, maybe even as far as touching the turning ball. I maintain two pancake zincs on the iron keel as close as practical to the cable attachment point. At the forward end, I bond zincs to the pivot hardware.

I suppose there might be some benefit to electrically wiring a submerged zinc to the cable to-hull, and hope for some beneficial current through the turning ball hardware, but that piece of pipe is so short I don't see a convenient way to connect to it once the hose is in place.

-- Leon Sisson

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Steve Siefken
1st Mate

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USA
81 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2005 : 22:21:00

I just bought a C25 swing keel (1984). I have it moored in fresh water,but plan to move it to salt water in 4-6 months.

Just finished some bottom work, but did not see any place to attach zincs. Where exactly at you putting yours?

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JoergK
Navigator

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USA
140 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2005 : 11:33:19

Affix them on both sides of keel close to the cable attachment. You need to clear the area of paint etc, drill small hole and tap for 1/4" bolt (Home Depot has drill bits and tap and tap wrench). Careful when tapping - use some oil and no more than two turns forward and back again to get shavings out of hole. Then just screw on the zinc.

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georgiaboater
1st Mate

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USA
72 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2005 : 22:30:45

I have just dropped my swing keel in salt water for the first time.

Please enlighten me on the zinc.....

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ddlyle
Captain

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302 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2005 : 22:56:58

Electrolasis in the water makes metal corode, even if I can't spell it.

Zinc is softer and more likely to corode than iron.
Hence it scarcifices to the benefit of our iron keels.
It's really a cool concept.

One has to be sure there is a good (electrical) connection, well we dont hook up wires or anything, but there has to be metal-to-metal contact so that the electrolosys in the water will naturally go to the softer metal. Probably the particular ions have something to do with it.
But I was watching the blond next to me instead of paying attention to the chemestry professor.

Tap and drill a hole in the keel.
I personally wanted my zincs to stay in the water when I raised the keel, and I wanted it to be close to the pivot point.
Others prefer zinc location closer to the cable attachment.
Both locations might be best.
Inspect annually and replace the zincs every year (they're relatively cheap) or two years at the longest, at least in salt water.

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Jay Schkloven
1st Mate

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USA
84 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2005 : 10:12:32

As this topic has reoccurred I made an attempt to check out the swing keels at my marina this last winter. Only one swing keel boat had zincs. The boat sits in brackish(SP)water at the dock. I have not seen any problem on my keel. I change the cable every 3 years as my own personal insurance policy. There does not seem to be any problem with the keel. Is a zinc necessary in this situation. I hate to mess with the coating on my keel which seems to be holding up very nicely.

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2005 : 10:37:47

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Jay Schkloven
 There does not seem to be any problem with the keel. Is a zinc necessary in this situation. I hate to mess with the coating on my keel which seems to be holding up very nicely.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
IMHO Leave well enough alone. In previous discussions there seems to be issues with the marina environment that makes things better or worse. That includes the general electrical activity in and around the water.

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