Catalina Smile (alias: Keel Crack)

[Brian Giersch]

My C 36 was commissioned in the Fall of '92. Haul it out every two years to dry the hull and (hopefully) avoid blisters. No problems yet. Always in good condition. Hauled out in Nov. for the biannual dry out and painting. Found a crack running around the forward part of the keel, just below the fairing (6" below the actual hull bottom). Runs 6 - 8 inches aft of the leading edge on both sides. A little disconcerting! Guys at the yard say 'no sweat' -- just grind it out and fill it. Bob McCullough, Tech editor for Mainsheet magazine, calls it the 'Catalina Smile", and said "if its not deep, just grind and fill it". However, a guy from Florida said the Catalina Smile is a loosening of the keel bolts, causing his keel to separate the entire length of the keel, both sides, and take on water. Didn't haul for three years, didn't understand the problem and just lived with 2-3 inches of water in his bilge. At haul out this winter had to loosen the keel bolts, lift the hull above the keel, clean the joint and fill with 5200, lower the hull, tighten the bolts with a torque wrench set for 106 lbs, then added additional lag bolts into the keel and glassed his repaired joint. Anyone with the more minor circumstances my boat has experienced? Suggestions?Brian Giersch

 

[Rob]

Same prob on my end

Brian, I did a post on this in the photo forum - you will see it under Catalina Smile (or click on the related link below).Here's what I know of it. My surveyor found the Catalina smile on my 1979 C-27 up initial survey. He took a carpenter's knife and dug it into the small crack, highlighting it and making me think he'd been in the sun a tad too long. I asked him how wise this was, and he said not to worry about it. I told him that I didn't plan to get a bottom job until the next year - he still said "don't sweat it." This is the same guy who went ballistic when he found that one battery was missing a tie down, so I had to trust him.Anyway, I took his advice. Of course, one week later I ran hard aground and remained there trying to kedge off for about 45 minutes. After bumping into several stumps, we eventually raised the main in the heavy wind and "slid" her off the bar, banging a few stumps along the way. Keel abuse!Even with this trauma, there was no significant problem. When she was hauled a year later, as you can see by the photo - she was in good shape. The yard simply filled the crack and painted her.I would not be overly concerned if I were you, especially with the young age of your boat. If you were sucking excessive water into the bilge, well, worry a little. But you're not - so don't sweat it.Now, the guy in Florida has two problems. I think a constant three inches of water in a bilge is excessive (captial E). Granted, I don't have a 36, but a bilge is a bilge, and I wouldn't want to be slogging all that water around. Secondly, the fact that he didn't haul the boat for three years when his bilge was wet the whole time - that speaks volumes. A quick haul after the bilge problem was noticed would have saved him quite a bit of work.So - that's my two cents. Let us know what you find, and what your course of action is.Best Regards, Rob

 

[Don]

Check the archives...

you will find out more about the Catalina smile than you can imagine. The smile is very common to Catalinas and normally is nothing to worry about unless you have water seeping out around the keel bolts (very rare). I do recommend checking the torque on the keel bolt nuts with the boat on the hard. Fill in the crack and enjoy.

 

[LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners]

Sounds like the Floridian was asking for trouble

To ignore a leak like that? Doesn't seem too wise, to say the least! If your bilge is dry, and the crack is shallow, relax

 

[don]

catalina smile

I own and operate a yard in long beach california.That smileneeds to be ground out apx. 5/16 deep 3" above and belowthe crack and lay up matt and cloth you also need to tighten up the keel bolts. thisrepair if a yard does the work shpould cost around3 to 4 hundrud dollars. I have fixed hundruds or these andif not properly fixed you risk keel bolt corosion.

 

[Brian Giersch]

thanks for help with "Smile"

Don (at a west coast yard): Thanks for your VERY constructive directions -- its the best yet! I'm in a yard on Ches. Bay, so can't come to you for help. Will follow each step your listed. One question: as I grind down below the surface (above and below the crack)am I grinding into keel metal or into gel coat and glass layers covering the keel?Brian Giersch

 

[Brian Giersch]

Don of Los Angeles (Yard Owner)

Don,Can you email me so that I might ask a more detailed question?Brian Gierschbdgiersch@erols.com