Catalina 36 Hull/Keel Joint

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Bill

I currently own a Catalina 30 and am considering buying a 1987 36 currently in the yard where I keep my boat. It has a shoal keel. The boat I am looking at has a hairline crack in the gell coat along the forward edge of the keel where the keel meets the keel stub, extending aft for about 3-4 inches on both sides of the keel. I haven't discussed this problem with the owner yet, but I would really appreciate the views of any 36 owner out there who may have had a similar problem. So far I have two opinions. (1) There's nothing you can do except periodically open up the area where the crack is, clean the cast keel of all rust, and reglass. (2) Its portrayed as caused by a normal flexing of the hull and keel, and it not to be worried about as long as you do (1) above whenever the cracks appear and keep the keel bolts proberly tightnened. I wouldn't consider a purchase without a surveyors assesment, but just wonder if I'm wasting my time considering this boat at all. Thanks. Bill
 
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Robert Fischer

Similar crack

I purcheased a 1985 c27 with a surprisingly similar crack. Mine was about 6 inches below the keel-hull joint. Make sure there is no associated ding which would indicate damage from striking a solid object. Check the keel hull joint for other signs, and review the keel attach bolts in the bilge. Look for any signs of stress in these areas. A survey sound like a good idea, being that the crack is at the joint. Good luck
 
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Jeff Walker

The Famous Catalina smile

Those kinds of cracks are pretty common with 36's and Tall Rig 30's. Several of my friends with cracks have had the keel re-fiberglassed to the hull with about a 2 foot wide strip going all the way around. I don't know how many plies of 181 glass they used but it seems to have done the trick. One friend did it after a blister job and got the best adhesion because the gel coat had been removed and the hull allowed to dry out. I'm not aware of a structural problem just leaving the crack alone but I sure don't like the way it looks.
 
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