Fixed Keel... 2 pieces or 1?

[Paul N.]

I was looking at Catalina 27 sitting in a cradle and noticed what looks like a perfectly horizontal "crack"/line in the keel about one foot below the hull's bottom. The crack has been filled with putty and repainted. However, this crack looks too linear to be the result of stress, running aground, hitting something, etc. This makes me think that perhaps the keel is constructed of two pieces and this line that I saw is simply the location where the pieces are attached. Does any one have any comments, suggestions, advice on what I might have been looking at or how the keel on the 27 is constructed?

 

[Steve]

That's the Keel-Hull Joint

The line that you ask about is the joint between the keel and the hull. In particular, the part of the hull known as the keel stub (on the outside) or the bilge (on the inside). It's not unusual for a small crack to develop over time at this point, but it MAY indicate a problem where the keel and the hull are bolted together. In particular, there is a piece of wood (either solid or plywood) glassed into the bottom of the bilge to provide strength. If it has gotten wet and rotted (a not uncommon event with older boats), it gets soft and the keel and the hull separate vertically. A surveyor can readily tell if this is so.More typically, the crack is a minor cosmetic flaw that can be faired and painted.

 

[Trevor]

Catalina "smile"

As Steve correctly asserted, the crack you see if the keel to hull joint. This is typical of many boats, especially Catalinas. Take a close look, but it's probably just something that needs some caulk and paint. You may want to check the keel bolts in the bilge to make sure they are tight.Best,Trevor