Catalina 22 Swing Keel Problem

[Bill]

I'm in the market for a used sailboat and just saw a C22 with a stuck swing keel. I don't know if its hand winched or has an electric drive but all I saw was several wires sticking out of a 1' pipe mid-deck. The boat has been berthed the last few years, has no trailer, and lots of plant life below. Is this fixable and at what cost? If I bought the boat I would have to get it hauled it up so the bottom could be cleaned and painted. Anyone know what this would cost? Otherwise the boat looks pretty nice.Bill O.

 

[John renfro]

keel

hello bill, did you remove the cocpit/cabin step and cover to look at the cable system? Factory was hand crank, never saw an after market electric install.john

 

[Guest]

Swing Keel

Thanks John. I understand it now. The owner removed the winch and everything else so what I was looking at was the tube the cable goes down. He was going to fix it and had bought all the parts. I haven't finalized the purchase yet, but when I do it will be my problem. BTW this boat has been in salt water for several years now with the keel down (no cable attached). What do you think are the chances it could be stuck?Cheers,Bill Ogilvie

 

[John renfro]

keel

hello bill, everything in the world is 50/50, I don't think the keel should be stuck by anything that can't be removed ( barnacles, weeds etc. ) is there a trailer that goes along with the boat? That would make repairs much easer and cheeper. Trailers are hard to locate if you need to drag the boat home. Are the keel hoisting parts in a box with the boat? Winch, cable,clevis etc.. Are about $ 160.00 new, and, although it can be hooked up under water, it much easer to attach the cable and run it past the turning ball on dry land.Good luck

 

[John renfro]

stuck

hello bill, another thought, the keel may be locked down with the lock down bolt, in the forward port settee. Counter clockwise several turns to unlock, it can be removed for inspection, it is two or three inches above waterline. they seem to bet bent from time to time and you may not be able to completely remove but you should be able to turn it enough to unlock the keel.john

 

[Guest]

Good news

Thanks again John; that's good to hear. The owner says all the parts are in a box, which I think I saw. It doesn't come with a trailer so I plan to have it hauled out of the water and worked on in a couple of months.Bill