Catalina 22 Fixed Keel Removal

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Charlie McElhill

To All Have a few questions about fixed keel removal from a Catalina 22. This boat has a cast iron keel, and needs some serious restoration from keel bolt replacement to resurfacing keel. Does anyone out there know if the Catalina 22 has a stub keel moulded into the bottom of the hull at the hull/keel interface or is the keel bolted directly at the Fairbody line and then faired in from there . From the inside of the boat, the bolts appear to be flush at the bilge, not like in the Catalina 27. Secondly, to date I have found 6 keel bolts approxixmately 1/2" in diameter. Anyone know how many there really are. Again, this is a cast iron keel and may or may not have the same number of bolts as a lead fixed keel. I would really not like to start to drop this keel just to find out there are more than 6 bolts. Finally, if I have struck out with my questions, does someone out there have any ideas for info source. This has to be fixed prior to next season. Thanks to all for reading.
 
Dec 25, 2000
6,052
Hunter Passage 42 Shelter Bay, WA
Charlie, I am not a Catalina expert, but...

it is my understanding that all fixed keel boats have a stub joint. This PRF joint can be flush with or extended below the hull line. If you can see and account for six keel bolts then you probably have located them all. The maker can confim this for you. Once your boat is on the hard, I would have the yard lift the boat up off the keel, but leave it on the jack stands so that the stub joint can be cleaned up while the keel is refinished. Then it is just a matter of lowering the boat onto the refinished keel using a 3M 5200 sealant, torquing the keel nuts, etc. Terry
 
Nov 23, 2004
281
Columbia 8.7 Super wide body Deltaville(Richmond)VA
something to consider

Charlie, Why not just leave the keel intact, and sister in new studs? you can drill new holes, thread them and screw the studs in. fairing can be done with the keel on the boat. removing the keel creates more problems than it solves, ie, new leaks, new keel to hull seal, re alignment when remounting. sistering is the easier and wiser way to go. also, remove the nuts if you haven't done so. you may find that the bolts are nice and shiny underneath the corroded nuts. this is pretty common on older boats. Larry
 
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Charlie McEhill

Fixed Keel Removal

Larry Thanks for the response. I have seriously considered your suggestion, and might have attempt this but for two issues I think are going to be tuff. One, the 6 keel bolts I have found are in horrible shape and are in almost inaccessible areas to drill new due to the interior insert. The nuts and washers holding the studs are in great condition, however, the studs as they say are pretty much history. So sistering studs may not be an option. Secondly, the keel realyy needs to be completely stripped to metel and treated, recoverd and shaped. I have owned this boat only for a year, and it seems previous owners have not paid sufficient attention to the keel. As a result, it has moderate corrosion over much of the surface and simply trying to patch will no longer due. Finally, I think tha over the past twenty years some of the water has found it's way up the keel to the attachement area as is evident from the stud distress. As much as I'm not looking foward to removing the keel, it has to be doen if the boat is to remain sound. If the boat was in poor shape overall, I would cut my losses. However, the boat is really in exellent condition with the exception of keel issue. Thanks for your response, if you can think of any other pitfalls, please drop a line. Thanks!
 
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Bill

Keel bolts

Charlie, go to http://www.catalina25-250.org and select the 25 specific forum and look for a thread dated 10/27/05 on Keel bolt stainless steel corrosion. I never realized this could be a problem. You may find something there that will help. Good luck and let us know what you decide to do. Bill
 
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