Bent Wing

Oct 26, 2008
6,214
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
Not related to fixing the keel - but for the life of me if its the starboard wing that is bent down I am having a very hard time in imaging how it coult get bent "down" during launch? The boat is lowered during launch so how is it bent down? Was it picked up with it still secured to something? What would be fixed enough in a typical blocking arrangement strong enough to bend the keel down when it was lifted? Was it picked up off a commercial shipping trailer while still secured to the trailer? In that case it would seem to be the responsiblilty of the shipping company who owns the trailer to make it ready to be lifted? I just can't understand the mechanical force that would bend it down on launching.
I was also wondering about that. Besides the curve on the starboard side looks far more uniform, as it if was intentional. The port side wing looks like it could have bent up in a drop on that side. The shape looks unnatural to me.

That said, I've never seen a wing keel with the wings lower than the center. That is what led me to speculating that the bent keel was on stbd. i also agree with those that say the performance wouldn't be affected at all.
 
Feb 2, 2006
470
Hunter Legend 35 Kingston
On my '87 Legend 35, one of my wings got bent up. It's made of lead. I tried using sledges and force and could not straighten it at all. I ended up just filling and fairing the scraped lead from the grounding and living with the bend.
 
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May 8, 2017
9
Hunter 410 Bonaire
Thank you for your input everyone.
For clarification, the keel is lead.
Both wings were damaged (the port bent up, the starboard bent down) during a launch from an unprotected trailer. The wings both had yellow paint from the trailer on them, so we assume one may have been stuck under the trailer.
 
Oct 26, 2010
2,015
Hunter 40.5 Beaufort, SC
What is an "unprotected trailer?" If it was a professional boat shipping company that had it on its trailer and it was launched directly from the trailer to the water (via a ramp, etc) it would seem they are responsible for any damage during the launch, unless you personally directed the launch and gave them specific instructions. If the yard lifted the boat from the trailer for the launch then it would seem that one, or both of them (the shipper and the yard) may be responsible.

I never direct the yard on lifting and setting my boat on stands. I might point out the lift points if it looks like they are in the wrong place but NEVER tell them specifically what to do. Several years ago they hauled my boat and in the process of moving it to the location for blocking, the furler luff foil was damaged on a tree limb. They replaced the whole furler (I assume covered by insurance) with a new foil and furler with no questions asked. I didn't have to say a word to them about who was responsible or who should pay. They didn't even "depreciate" the value of the previous furler for age.
 
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dLj

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Mar 23, 2017
3,820
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
Thank you for your input everyone.
For clarification, the keel is lead.
Both wings were damaged (the port bent up, the starboard bent down) during a launch from an unprotected trailer. The wings both had yellow paint from the trailer on them, so we assume one may have been stuck under the trailer.
Lead keel - they can be bent back into the shape you want without concerns for structural integrity. Now that said, that's going to be a bear of a job! I'd be looking at a hydraulic ram setup that can both push and pull. Setting up a frame on the ground to attach the ram to that allows a lot of freedom of positioning of the ram. Build a large center post that you then set the boat on to hold everything in place.

I'd wrap the keel right at the base of the junction of the vertical keel and junction with the wings with heavy nylon lifting straps, holding the whole structure together and keeping all stresses off the vertical part of the keel.

I'm on my phone or I'd draw you a picture. Think two or maybe three I beams or railroad track laid on the ground parallel to the wings. Some wooden railroad ties or other large heavy wood beams running bow to stern direction that give enough height so setting the boat on it gives enough height to allow the hydraulic ram to have enough travel to work. Then you push/pull each wing into shape.

It wouldn't be very hard to do, most boat yards should have materials kicking around to throw a structure like that together in a day. Use the travel lift to position the boat and go to work.

Just a quick thought as I'm sitting on my boat avoiding going to work myself....

dj
 

Tom J

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Sep 30, 2008
2,309
Catalina 310 Quincy, MA
The wings both had yellow paint from the trailer on them, so we assume one may have been stuck under the trailer.
If this was the case, the yard definitely screwed up. The keel should have been supported by a cross beam, with the wings above the level of the trailer. The hydraulic arms should only be stabilizing the boat, not supporting it. We use a Brownell trailer at my yacht club, and different boats require different cross beams and settings on the arms. Deep fin sailboats require a strap suspended between the legs of the trailer to support the keel. Maybe the yard used a strap on your wing keel.
 

Tom J

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Sep 30, 2008
2,309
Catalina 310 Quincy, MA
This is my C310 being launched on a Brownell trailer. Wing keel is above the level of the trailer.
IMG_2864.jpg