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Keel etc Maintenance

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JoergK
Navigator

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USA
140 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/07/2002 : 10:28:49

This is the first time that I attempt to replace the swing keel hardware and, naturally, I immediately run into little pesky problems. Hope someone can help.
1. I would like to inspect the keel trunk. There is a wooden "cover" (sort of) over the trunk, with 4 screws (2 each side). Srews are out but wooden cover sits tight. Is this glued in? Is that normal? How best to get it off?
2. Replacing the lifting cable. I assumed I have to remove the ladder. Trying to do so I see that the top of the ladder on the port side is "permanently" connected to the fiberglass with 4 wood screws whose heads are apparently sunk and covered with wood plugs. Inaccessible. This seems to indicate that the ladder is NOT to be removed !? Now, if that is so what exactly am I to do? Can a good samaritarian give me step by step instruction about the whole cable replacement operation (I have all the new parts) ?
Thanks very much for suffering a bloody newcomer.
Joerg

JoergK

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1768 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2002 : 11:13:39

Hi Joerg,

Is that a Norwegian name you've got there? Anyway, replacing the swing keel hardware is my next project, so I'm about to attempt what you are doing. I'm not sure what year your boat was made ... mine is an older model (hull #68), so I'm not sure our two boats are made exactly alike. Nevertheless, I'll give you my two cents worth:

1. The wooden cover ... is it inside the cabin on the floor, just over the keel trunk? If so, there a two of those on my boat ... they are made of teak paneling. Both of mine came off easily after removing the screws. I don't know what they are for ... I assumed they are removable so you CAN inspect the top of the keel trunk, and I also use them to vacuum water out of the boat after I've been working with the pressure washer ('seems to be the lowest point in the boat, so water always collects there).

2. My cabin steps came out easily. They are held in position by two bolts that go through the top of the first step into the fiberglass next to the sink, another bolt through a stainless steel bracket at the top of the steps on the starboard side, and two similar stainless steel brackets on the bottom of the steps, one on each side (my bottom SS brackets are both missing, BTW). I don't know if the steps need to be removed to replace the cable and other components ... I took my steps out to make it easier to sand and refinish them. I figured I would leave the steps disconnected until I got to the cable replacement to see if that helped the process or not.

I'll be watching this thread closely to see how others recommend to do the replacement ... 'hope we both get it done right, in record time.

Good luck!

Buzz Maring, C-25 SK/SR #68, "Freya"

Edited by - on

JoergK
Navigator

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USA
140 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2002 : 11:33:13

Buzz, it may be Norwegian, too, but this one is German.
My boat is a '86 SK. Apparently the keel trunk cover (I have only 1) and ladder attachments are different from yours.
So, I look forward to further illumination.
Joerg

JoergK

Edited by - on

Mike Vaccaro
1st Mate

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77 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2002 : 15:38:56

Joerg,

We recently replaced the winch and cable on our '84 model. It was not necessary to remove the companionway steps, although, fortunately, a couple of us were relatively small, so it made working in the confined space behind the steps practical (i.e., lying in the quarterberth underneath the cockpit sole). The winch is best replaced during a haul-out, at which time it's practical to inspect the forward keel attach pin. In the tech tips section, there are details about how to lower the four keel mount bolts, although we used a simple cradle on a fork-truck, greatly simplifying the whole endeavor. The folks at Catalina recommended that the pin be inspected, the primary concern is the hole in the keel wallowing due to wear (the cast iron is softer than the bronze pin). If the hole is warn, the recommendation is to bush the keel with a stainless bushing. You can have one turned at a machine shop, but is was more practical for us to simply use a section of appropriately sized stainless tubing. If you are contemplating removing the steps, which is possible, you may want to consider refinishing them, if required as it's much easier to do with the steps disassembled. If, however, you can gain sufficient access with the steps in place, recommend that you leave 'em there if they don't require any additional attention. Don't forget to inspect your turning ball and cable hose assembly--WARNING: Don't remove this assembly with the boat in the water! It'll sink--not good! The tech tips section is full of good information about the keel mechanism, so hopefully that will be up and running soon (if it's not already). Also recommend you call the technical support folks at Catalina, they've been very helpful every time that we've called.

Best of Luck,

Mike Vaccaro on the "Swoose"
84 TR/SK #4707

Edited by - on

Ed Hilton
Deckhand

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5 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2002 : 19:07:28

Hi
I just replaced my keel cable I have an 87 model on the top step there was a teak sole plate held on by 8 small screws underneth the sole plate are the bolts that hold on the winch I did not need to take the steps off to remove the winch piece of cake just need small hands.

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JoergK
Navigator

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USA
140 Posts

Response Posted - 04/14/2002 : 09:03:04

To Mike, Buzz and Ed, thanks.
I got the winch out without having to remove the ladder (yes, you need impossibly small hands and long fingers).
I am replacing all hardware (execpt winch). Some findings: the tip of the cotter pin that holds the cable was almost eaten away from galvanic action !! Could have easily slipped out and release the keel. Previous owner had painted over the keel zinc (could that have contributed?). Also, the big pin that holds the keel was bent! What a sight.

Joerg

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 04/14/2002 : 16:33:51

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
To Mike, Buzz and Ed, thanks.
I got the winch out without having to remove the ladder (yes, you need impossibly small hands and long fingers).
I am replacing all hardware (execpt winch). Some findings: the tip of the cotter pin that holds the cable was almost eaten away from galvanic action !! Could have easily slipped out and release the keel. Previous owner had painted over the keel zinc (could that have contributed?). Also, the big pin that holds the keel was bent! What a sight.

Joerg,

"The big pin that holds the keel was bent". Are you referring to the fulcrum pin up front, the one that the keel pivots on? If so I've seen one such pin years ago in a Catalina Dealers showroom and still can't figure how that occured. It had to happen in a side to side accident in which the keel was fully down and the boat grounded with force exerted atwartship. I always found that pin to be a sound member of the swing design, perhaps the staunchest.

Val on the hard DAGNABIT

<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Val Bisagni

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