Why did they mount keel hangers inside out

[davev1954]

I had an early 70's C-22 many years ago (the boat was old then- HA) and we took the keel off and faired it, and hung it back the way it came out.

So I recently drove up about 12 hours (one way) to check out a cheap (not the right word) 1978 C-22. I did not pay attention to the keel hanger pivot housing. I just looked at the condition of the keel and knew it didn't need near the work that old keel needed- if any.

My question is- why did people reverse the pivot hanger (so the pin is below the hull line)? Was there some 'racing' upgrade that was popular? An article in a club newsletter? I can't imagine they would just accidentally forget how to re install it.

I really don't want to mess with the keel- unless there is a convincing reason to drop it and reverse the pin.

I hope the pics tell a story- I'm not one to document everything I do (but I do enjoy reading others who take the time!)

 

[Leeward Rail]

I can't imagine they would just accidentally forget how to re install it.

I can. The more I work in the auto repair industry, the more I realize that some people should never, ever, touch a wrench.

 

[Gene Neill]

Dave, it's a common mistake. It's easy enough to set a jack under the forward end of the keel, lower it a couple inches, and flip the hangers. Good time to throw in some new bolts while you're at it. Easy peasy.

Bolts: https://www.mcmaster.com/#93190a585/=131qwrh

 

[Jacktar]

My 83 is the same way, did not catch it before i launched it because I had never seen another one out of the water before. I will switch mine out on next haul, too busy sailing it right now! Supposedly the keel raising system had been recently done before I bought it per the PO. It was solid, went up and down and worked fine so left it as is. Only when I started posting pix on my thread did Don Boyko remark on it.

 

[davev1954]

Sounds like I've got a new project to add to the list. At least the bolts look clean and should be easy to pull out.

 

[davev1954]

In reading thru the Catalina O2006 technical owners manual- I found what I think may be the reason people but the hangers upside down. There is an image that - thru my eyes at least- they have it backwards. It could be that some people relied on this image. I have seen dumber things...

Look closely at figure 1

 

[Jacktar]

Yep side view on diagram would be big help

 

[Leeward Rail]

That drawing definitely makes it look upside down.
Of course when you remove the hanger, and see the recess where the pin is, it becomes obvious how it is designed.