Broke my keel lifting eye bolt

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G

GDTRFB

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Aug 14, 2011
70
Catalina C22 Kenmore, WA
That really sucks. The last thing I was doing before putting her in for the summer. I guess it is better it broke on the trailer than on the lake or sound.

I am hoping to fix this without pulling the keel. I understand removing the old the eyelet is going to be difficult followed by the drilling and tapping for the new 1/2" eye bolt CD sells.

Any advice?

Thanks,
Paul
 
CaptGregg

CaptGregg

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Mar 8, 2012
446
Catalina 22 trailer sailor
Hey Paul,

I know you posted here looking answers, I hope someone here has experience with this and can guide you. If you don't mind me asking, was there something you did that broke the eyebolt or did it just break during normal usage and age?
 
G

GDTRFB

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Aug 14, 2011
70
Catalina C22 Kenmore, WA
CaptGregg said:
Hey Paul,

I know you posted here looking answers, I hope someone here has experience with this and can guide you. If you don't mind me asking, was there something you did that broke the eyebolt or did it just break during normal usage and age?
Click to expand
It looks like normal useage took its effects on it. The eyelet on the keel was worn to the point that it was oblong. probably about an 1/8th" material was left on the top of the eye from the bolt wearing it (it should have been a clevis pin instead of a bolt) I installed the new winch and cable and I was testing the operation on the trailer when after a few ups and down on the trailer I checked again the connection at the keel. It was then that I noticed the eye cracked where there wasn't much material left. Here is a picture of the eye before it cracked. The crack is on top.



You can also see wher the head of the bolt holding the cable (from the previous owner) wore a groove into the keel trunk. I don't know how thick the glass is here, but I am going to fill it and use the proper clevis pin.
 
caguy

caguy

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Sep 22, 2006
4,004
Catalina, Luger C-27, Adventure 30 Marina del Rey
It might be easier to weld another eye bolt on or weld the old one back on. A welder should be able to attach it for about $50. Then you won't have to lift the boat off the trailer.
 
jrowan

jrowan

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Mar 5, 2011
1,294
O'Day 35 Severn River, Mobjack Bay, Va.
Consider yourself lucky that U found the break while out of the water. My old C 25 had a broken cable connection on its swing keel, that the P.O. let go & the keel slammed down so hard that it cracked the trunk box fiberglass that supports the keel load. I bought the boat cheap, but it cost me abut a grand to fix the trunk box professionally.
 
G

GDTRFB

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Aug 14, 2011
70
Catalina C22 Kenmore, WA
I am going to get the stern in the air after work today and analyze my situation more. I am thinking a solid soaking of Kroil or PB blaster plus an air hammer and some heat might get the old one out, other wise I will be welding.
 
CaptGregg

CaptGregg

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Mar 8, 2012
446
Catalina 22 trailer sailor
I am so glad you brought this up, I was going outside today after it quit raining to check mine, the PO said he recently replaced the cable and pin but he said nothing about the actual eyelet. Hopefully the rain is over and I can check it tomorrow.
 
Ken

Ken

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Jun 1, 2004
1,182
Catalina 22 P. P. Y. C.
PB blaster and a torch should work to back it out, should it break left hand bits along with heat usually brings them out...

Let us know how it works out..
 
G

GDTRFB

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Aug 14, 2011
70
Catalina C22 Kenmore, WA
I got the stern in the air this afternoon:

lowered the tongue, blocked and rasied the tongue to get it up. Gave me enough room to work.
Cleaned the eye with a wire wheel on a die grinder. cleaned up good to reveal the stainless eye. Blasted with PB Blaster and sucked down a frosty. Decided the best chance to break it free would be an air hammer. combination of vibration and 150 lbs of air pressure do wonders on rusted stuff.
It moved after just 20 seconds of hammering on the right side to unscrew it.


And there you have it!


What do I see? a 1/2 inch Eye! Whoopie, I don't have to drill and tap! Apparently it was replaced once before!

New one should be here on Thursday. Did a read somewhere you need to use a special loctite for Stainless in Cast Iron?

Paul
 
Ken

Ken

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Jun 1, 2004
1,182
Catalina 22 P. P. Y. C.
I'd be surprised to learn it was anything other than blue loctite. :D
 
jrowan

jrowan

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Mar 5, 2011
1,294
O'Day 35 Severn River, Mobjack Bay, Va.
Damn man, that's a LOT of cribbing you've got holding that hull up in the air. I'd be very careful while under that boat. You've got a lot of weight propped up over head!
I like to only use jack stands chained together, but sometimes you've gotta use what you've got. Take care.
 
T

Tommyrbk

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Mar 1, 2012
7
Catalina 22 Perrault Falls
All good info! Thanks guys, I have only one experience with left haned drill bits. They are great even though you did not need them.
 
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