Welcome
@Perry Welch to the forum. I too do not trust Facebook , twitter and the rest of social media.
I am a former sailboat dealer now retired. This forum also has a space for private messages which I exchange private info between forum members using private messaging. In fact I have suggested in private messaging to others who have posted personal info on the open forum to remove it as you do not know who is reading that. In addition sailboatowners.com does not share any information with other members. Use private messaging is safe
American Fiberglass has been out of business since the late 1970’s per a friend of mine who knew that company but not that boat. I could not find any photos or diagrams of that boat as
@LloydB asked for advice from me. We exchanged phone numbers thru private messaging but we will not share phone numbers with others.
It sounds like you have a swing keel or lifting keel weighing 550 pounds. It would be held in place by a bolt either thru the keel housing inside the cabin below the winch or by the bolt secured by two hangers just like the Catalina 22 and and 25 on the hull. The machine bolts holding the hangers in place on the bottom of the hull are screwed into stainless steel plates embedded in the fiberglass hull referring to swing keel.
Since I am not familiar with the boat, can you take more photos at the bottom of the keel housing inside the cabin? Also look on the bottom of the hull for any bolts, hangers to see if there is anything there and take a photo or two. How about a photo of the deck atop of the lifting keel. I learned there were two keels one swing and the other lifting. So I am trying to make sure what exactly we are dealing with
Per
@LloydB he reached out thru the forum private messaging just he did with you and me. i Enjoyed talking with him which is why I know about your inquiry
Dave