Questions about my "new" 1972 Cat 22

[Coppertone]

I am planning on buying this 1972 Catalina 22. She really is as sound as she looks.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/XUS7JhUtdSJWYLLb9
https://photos.app.goo.gl/aNuPnp9fZqixRfn18

I have checked the boat over as thoroughly as I can on the trailer. The interior is great (except that someone installed shag carpet), and it shows very few signs of moisture. The decks and bulkheads are perfect for such an old boat. The hull is also great, no signs of anything untoward at all. I have a few questions about the bow eye attachment, a thing glued to the floor under the port side forward seat, and of course, the centerboard and winch.

First, is this the 1972 factory mount for the bow eye?
https://photos.app.goo.gl/qyqxFoLa2miRhBcg7


What is this ring glued to the inside of the hull (next to the speedometer impeller)?
https://photos.app.goo.gl/VdJzXgfq5e4QDbPa7

Despite the glasswork being in fine shape, with no cracks or rot showing, the winch cants to the side. What is the best way to fix/strengthen this?
https://photos.app.goo.gl/cBPN3FEApF9ftJcg7


Last, the centerboard. Supposedly this boat has lived in fresh water its whole life, so why does the centerboard look like this? The cable and its attachment point on the board are fine, and from what I can tell while on the trailer, the hinge fitting looks clean and properly installed. I just don't get why the board would be so corroded. The other side looks fine! Were they faired with that much compound originally?
https://photos.app.goo.gl/xvCpLFiAKnYo8BXr6

Thanks in advance!

 

[pclarksurf]

yes to original bow eye-- welcome to things that we all have likely upgraded to a through bolted u bolt and proper backing plate.

Ring is likely the POs version of a depth sounder-- common to add the puck inside the hull in various concoctions of epoxy, toilet wax... things that lack air gaps that still allow the transducer to give good results.

On your keel winch-- many folks in this thread have rectified with various solutions-- myself included when I had to completely remove the step and epoxy in a solid piece of 1 1/2" hardwood. Yours looks to be undisastered from a rot perspective, wondering if your mounting surface is solid, and a shim to level the winch foot wouldn't hurt.

 

[pclarksurf]

sadly yes-- not uncommon for our very old and very Cast Iron Keels to have all but fallen apart over the years:

my version of rising from the ashes of keel hell : https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/today-it-gets-real.178757/
And again-- many on this forum have documented their fine work in this regard-- search the archives for keel restoration and you'll have the world at your fingertips.

Ps: Nice Boat!

 

[rpludwig]

Congrats, looks very good, much better than most for it's age. Just follow the keel threads here (remove, grind, sandblast, epoxy, fair), replace your keel cable & volcano, fix the winch position and you should be good to go. Hang around, you'll find all your questions answered right here!

 

[Voiding Sounds]

Holy shag carpet, batman!

 

[greg_m]

Wow, the shag carpet = looks like maybe the PO had a Ford panel van back in his youth as well! Of course we did not call it a "panel van" back then either!

 

[rpludwig]

Wow, the shag carpet = looks like maybe the PO had a Ford panel van back in his youth as well! Of course we did not call it a "panel van" back then either!

...and gold and avocado appliances in his kitchen!