Gloucester 22

[Armike]

Hi, I’m new in the forum. I just got a 1990 Glouceste 22 fixed keel. It needs some TLC. But my main concern is the compression post and what I found when I open one side of the post. when I opened the post I found a fiberglass structure that looks broken. And I don’t know if I have something missing or if it’s part of the swing keel structure from previous hull models. I don’t know if it’s a hollow compression post or not. She is as cute as it gets and I’m craving to get he in the water asap. Any help is greatly appreciate. Thanks!!!

 

[rgranger]

You said yours was a fixed Keel …So it is unlikely that that tube in your compression post was part of any cable system for a swing keel. Is it possible that someone had run a lightning ground down through that too to your keel?

 

[Armike]

Thanks for your feed back rgranger! The lighting ground cable never cross my mind. I think it‘s possible. The little I found out about this sailboat is that the majority of them were swing keel. Only a few were built with fixed keel. This is why I thought maybe is part of the hull mold from the past and they just leave it there to save costs? I’m also intrigued if I have an inner post missing since I can see a square mark at the bottom right behind the fiberglass structure In the top view picture. Once again thank you for your response and I’ll take any help I can get to figure this one out.

 

[LloydB]

Kinda looks like the top of a broken retractable center board retractor to me. Could be the PO decided to turn it into a fixed keel after the damage? Doesn't mean much though because I don't recognize the square spot you mentioned and I can't tell which view is the top.

 

[rgranger]

@LloydB makes a goof point about the PO

You never know on a 30 yo boat. There may be nothing original left in the boat.

if it were mine I’d rip it all out and build something strong, functional and better looking.
Maybe a plastic post like this

 

[Armike]

Thanks for your the reply’s and I’m sorry it took me so long to respond. Went to the Ouachita National Forest to hide from the world there for a minute. There’s a beautiful lake over there -Ouachita Lake - that I’m planning to go in September with my Sailboat. I appreciate the suggestion of ripping everything out and build something nicer and stronger. I paid very little money for this Sailboat and I’m looking forward for the adventure of getting her up and going again. I just got a roller furling for her. Never had a roller furling before. If anyone has a Gloucester 22 fixed keel picture of the keel would be greatly appreciated. I haven’t been at the boat since last time I did a post. I will keep y’all updated when I check this possibilities. Thanks again for everyone for your input.

 

[grauerfam]

Armike,
I have an 83 Gloucester 22 with a swing keel. Your compression post/ box enclosure looks just like my boat except without the block & tackle inside for the swing keel. The fiberglass tube is definitely from a swing keel so it my be as you said - a left over. So, right now the compression post/ box enclosure is doing 2 things: supporting the mast and keeping some wiring out of sight. I would keep an eye on it before doing any mods. It's probably fine. Go sailing.
You have one of the newer boats - probably built by Classic Yachts in Kansas. The earlier boats were built by Gloucester Yachts in Gloucester, VA. CY bought the rights after GY went out of business. CY built more of a custom boat so there are many more variations that weren't seen on the earlier boats. Go to sailingtexas.com and look in their archive of sold boats - I believe there are a couple of the fixed keel boats there.
The 1st pic below is my boat with back side off of the compression post so you can see similarities with your setup. 2nd pic is an aftermarket, synthetic rudder from a Catalina 25. Notice the extra material on the front edge below the waterline. It's marketed as a Hi-performance or Balanced Rudder. Made a Hugh difference in how my boat sails. I can actually let go of the tiller now and with sails trimmed properly it will stay on course with no hands. I will be modifying it to work with the original rudder head to maintain the swing up capability. Last pic is my boat on the trailer at my house. I added some stuff your boat already has: jib tracks on cabin top ( as well as on deck either side of cabin top, aft of shrouds.), halyards run back to cockpit along with a mast gate, cabin top winches and line clutches and a mainsheet traveler at the forward end of the cockpit. These are nice boats that sail well and have decent interior room. I'm on Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.

 

[LesCayere]

Thanks for your the reply’s and I’m sorry it took me so long to respond. Went to the Ouachita National Forest to hide from the world there for a minute. There’s a beautiful lake over there -Ouachita Lake - that I’m planning to go in September with my Sailboat. I appreciate the suggestion of ripping everything out and build something nicer and stronger. I paid very little money for this Sailboat and I’m looking forward for the adventure of getting her up and going again. I just got a roller furling for her. Never had a roller furling before. If anyone has a Gloucester 22 fixed keel picture of the keel would be greatly appreciated. I haven’t been at the boat since last time I did a post. I will keep y’all updated when I check this possibilities. Thanks again for everyone for your input.

The sales brochure doesn't mention a fix keel. It has a keel trunk consisting of 800 pounds of lead. It works as a keel also. search for the sales brochure an the owners manual. Next year hopefully I might get brave enough to put the keel again in the trunk with its mechanism.

 

[Armike]

I'm back, I can't believe how long it's been. I'm following everyone's advice and trying to bring this baby back to sailing. I added a new compression post - thanks rgranger - and I will ensemble the compression box around it. I think I have this under control.
I had to get new spreader bracket because they were bent somehow, so I got that cover. By the way Dwyer Mast & Rigging - Quality Sailboat Parts and Rigging has the hardware for these boats. The gooseneck is another concern. I have a sliding gooseneck attached to the boom that I don't think is the right one because I found 6holes on the mast. I took a chance and I order one. it's the wrong one of course but the holes align! so I'll send it back and get the right one.
Grauerfam, thank you so much for your photos! they helped me to figure out things. My boat has a fixed keel, confirmed. I dove under and inspected it. It's a fin keel, like an upside down shark fin. Under the trunk shape its not very big - lescayere thanks for your suggestion - I don't have an underwater camera
It would be great if you can send me a photo of the gooseneck attachment to confirm I'm doing things right. Whenever you get a chance of course. So as the center board retractor is a leftover from previous model I'm going to run a lightning ground as you mentioned before.
my big question is to anyone that can answer it is, how do you check out the chainplates? They go through in between the hull and the interior skin into a blind spot. I looked and looked with out figuring it out. Should I cut a hole to reach the bolts? this is what concerns me the most. I don't want the mast to fall because of this after all the work I'm putting in. Thanks to everyone again smooth sailing.
Im in Eureka Springs Arkansas. Lovely 2000 people town in the Ozark Mountains with a beautiful lake "Beaver Lake"