Floating a Catalina 25 without a keel

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drumbeater

drumbeater

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Jan 18, 2011
225
Hunter 26 Beaufort SC
Can you float this boat with the fixed keel removed? Got one that is beached on a dry lake and looking to get it to the water to move it to a sailing club. But it would take alot to get it to 4' of water. 2' is not so difficult.

I was thinking of removing keel and rolling it on pipes or something to get it out to the water. Any other ideas? Can't get a crane near it.
 
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CaptDon01

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Nov 19, 2008
2,129
Catalina C-22 MK-II Parrish, FL
Another issue might also be that when the hull is laying over on it's side, the water may come over the gunnel before the boat actually starts to float, so the hull would fill with water, and now you've got another problem. Sounds like a bad situation all around.

Don
 
J

jimg

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Jun 5, 2004
175
catalina 27 dana point
C25 keel removal

Removing that keel is not at all an easy thing to do. For starters it weighs 1900 lbs and you would have to raise the boat to drop it. Also, if the 25's are constructed like other fixed keel Catalinas of the era, the keel is attached with a considerable amount of glass reinforced resin adhesive and will probable stay put with all the keelbolt nuts completely removed. I understand that you have a real dilemma but I don't think this is a practical solution.
 
drumbeater

drumbeater

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Jan 18, 2011
225
Hunter 26 Beaufort SC
I thought it sounded like a bad idea. I'm going to have to come up with another idea to lift a boat without a crane and move it 100' out into the water. Maybe a helicopter? :D
 
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CaptDon01

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Nov 19, 2008
2,129
Catalina C-22 MK-II Parrish, FL
a REAL BIG helocopter.....
Sounds like it might be a good reef for the fish once the lake level comes back up.....

Don
 
jrowan

jrowan

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Mar 5, 2011
1,294
O'Day 35 Severn River, Mobjack Bay, Va.
Perhaps you could design a system of pipe rollers or logs & roll it out towards open water. It'll scuff up the hull a lot, but that may be your only option. Once you get closer to the waters edge you will have to dig a "channel" in the dry lake bed to try & right the keel downwards to prevent flooding the cabin as the previous post stated. Closing all the hatchbords securely will help prevent some flooding. If you don't have a tidal range to help you it compounds your problems. I would not mess with that keel as without a travel lift crane, you'll never get it back on again. Might be better to move on to something more feasable. Good luck.
 
UPSGUY

UPSGUY

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Jan 9, 2011
133
Catalina 22 Bayville NY
The salvage guys use airbags. They look like big sausages. They inflate under the hull and roll the boat back in. I saw them do it to a freighter on discovery channel.
 
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ms. ndpndnt

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Oct 15, 2012
15
'83 catalina 22 South West, Florida
large pipes would make a good roller , very long strong tow line then roll & drag. block off cockpit sides with cushins, we 've used plastic bags or anything else u can think of to help keep the water out and the main thing is a large gas pump ready for when the water starts comming in. and drag away It won't be easy but it can b done.
 
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Ray Bowles

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Oct 6, 2008
857
Hunter, Island Packet, Catalina, San Juan 26,38,22,23 Kettle Falls, Washington
A automoblie wrecker (flatbed type) can easily load it up like it sets without damage.
 
CCrane2299

CCrane2299

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Dec 11, 2010
486
MacGregor 26x Hayden AL
How about renting a mini excavator for the weekend. If you can't get the boat to the lake...bring the lake to the boat. If its only 100 feet it could be done in a day for a couple of hundred dollars. The earth could be pushed back in the ditch if it was an issue.
 
anchorclanker

anchorclanker

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May 27, 2012
1,152
Oday 222 Beaver Lake, Arkansas
I think a trailer would be the simplest choice provided you have any access to the boat.
 
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