I'll write about how the wreck occured tomorrow, but for openers my 1980 C22 launched off the trailer, up, through and over the tailgate and fenders of my pickup. She then landed on the port side bootstripe next to the drivers side door of the truck. No one was hurt as nobody was there. The truck is totalled, the trailer needs a day of serious surgery and now the important part. How can I check out hidden damage to the keel assembly? The boat is a 1980 C22 with the keel pin set-up that has a support collar that holds the pin in place with 2, approxamatly 3/8 inch thick, bolts on each side that run up into the hull. The keel pin is lower than the hull bottom on this model. The keel has the follow-up pin spacers and side pucks. The keel struck the trailer crossmember that is about 10" forward of the keel when at rest on the trailer. It seriously bent the crossmember when the boat launched upward. Then the keel struck the tailgate of the truck with with a major attitude problem. When the boat hit the ground it landed on the port side thus sparing the keel further punishment. I have looked over the entire keel pin assembly from below and have found nothing at all that indicates any damage. In the interior of the boat there is no damage in the forward dining table locker where the interior keel plates rest. The starbord side can not be inspected. The bolts are fine with absolutly no dis-formaty at all. Operation up and down of the keel is as before the accident. Is there something else I need to look at? The boat damage appears to be about $3500 and consists mainly of gouges to the bow from the trailer winch and road rash from the gravel. There are scrapes everywhere so the hull needs repainting. We just had the hull and deck painted during the winter of 05/06 and the rest of the boat is in beautiful condition so it is well worth repairing. Any help with the keel question would be great. I'll try to write up how it happened and attach pictures tomorrow. Thanks, Ray.
Help! My C22 slammed onto the road from 5' high.
- Thread starter Ray
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Do you have video?
Wow! Are you really going to make us wait until tomorrow to tell us how the hell this happened? Big Joe
Wow! Are you really going to make us wait until tomorrow to tell us how the hell this happened? Big Joe
Can't Wait
Just wondering, was there a transom strap holding the boat to the trailer? The only way your going to inspect the keel hanger inserts is to remove the keel. Its the only way your going to be able to see the area around the inserts. The bolts are 5/16" X 1 1/4", the inserts if needed can be bought from Catalina Direct. I would be more worried about the area (resin) holding them in with going through that much stress. Sounds like they survived, at least the port side. Unfortunately unless you cut the liner on the starboard side the only way you can visually inspect it is from the bottom. Sounds like your going to have the boat off the trailer any way, so one way to lower the keel is get four 5/16" all thread rods w/nuts, replace the bolts (one at a time)with the rods, then using the keel winch along with the rods you can lower the keel. Another is to made a jig that fits on a jack (this is the way I lower mine). Good Luck in whatever you decide. Looking forward to hearing the story of how it happened.
Just wondering, was there a transom strap holding the boat to the trailer? The only way your going to inspect the keel hanger inserts is to remove the keel. Its the only way your going to be able to see the area around the inserts. The bolts are 5/16" X 1 1/4", the inserts if needed can be bought from Catalina Direct. I would be more worried about the area (resin) holding them in with going through that much stress. Sounds like they survived, at least the port side. Unfortunately unless you cut the liner on the starboard side the only way you can visually inspect it is from the bottom. Sounds like your going to have the boat off the trailer any way, so one way to lower the keel is get four 5/16" all thread rods w/nuts, replace the bolts (one at a time)with the rods, then using the keel winch along with the rods you can lower the keel. Another is to made a jig that fits on a jack (this is the way I lower mine). Good Luck in whatever you decide. Looking forward to hearing the story of how it happened.
Keel Housing
Ray: As Ken mentions, you need to be sure you havn't cracked the fiberglass that holds the keel unit. With no visible damage and no apparent functional damage as you mentioned, before investing a lot into cosmetics of the hull, I'd set it in the water for a few hours while still on a trailer to check for leaks. If it leaks, pull from water and reassess. If no leaks, then I'd probably sail with it for a number of days for further checking before refinishing the hull. Good luck! Dick K.
Ray: As Ken mentions, you need to be sure you havn't cracked the fiberglass that holds the keel unit. With no visible damage and no apparent functional damage as you mentioned, before investing a lot into cosmetics of the hull, I'd set it in the water for a few hours while still on a trailer to check for leaks. If it leaks, pull from water and reassess. If no leaks, then I'd probably sail with it for a number of days for further checking before refinishing the hull. Good luck! Dick K.
Inspect
"The keel pin is lower than the hull bottom on this model." Why? Are the keel hangers in upside down? I think that removing it and inspecting all of the fiberglass would be the thing to do as already suggested. ...All the way from the volcano to the keel hangers. Even from the inside where you can view. Maybe replace the 4 SS bolts keel bolts. There could be strain / stress on the bolt heads. Other things to inspect: I'd look for hairline cracks in the gelcoat at any point around the boat. Did the fiberglass and gelcoat get a road rash? Was the outboard mounted on the back? (Not recommended but some might do it) I would insert the keel bolts into the hull weldement and check for excessive play. Then if it looks good, try floating it. One good point is that these boats have a fair amount of fiberglass in the hull layup but on the bad side, leverages being what they are, 4 keel bolts don't seem strong enough for a 550lb hunk of cast Iron.
"The keel pin is lower than the hull bottom on this model." Why? Are the keel hangers in upside down? I think that removing it and inspecting all of the fiberglass would be the thing to do as already suggested. ...All the way from the volcano to the keel hangers. Even from the inside where you can view. Maybe replace the 4 SS bolts keel bolts. There could be strain / stress on the bolt heads. Other things to inspect: I'd look for hairline cracks in the gelcoat at any point around the boat. Did the fiberglass and gelcoat get a road rash? Was the outboard mounted on the back? (Not recommended but some might do it) I would insert the keel bolts into the hull weldement and check for excessive play. Then if it looks good, try floating it. One good point is that these boats have a fair amount of fiberglass in the hull layup but on the bad side, leverages being what they are, 4 keel bolts don't seem strong enough for a 550lb hunk of cast Iron.
How much?
Let's see, you're thinking about doing $3500 in repairs to a $4-5000 boat. Wafflr is right, it's done, move on.
Let's see, you're thinking about doing $3500 in repairs to a $4-5000 boat. Wafflr is right, it's done, move on.
How it happened and thanks for helping.
The reason I must investigate rebuilding the boat is that it is insured for $5000 and this must run its course before using the hull for a bridge somewhere. Also the boat was completely faired and painted last year and is very very nicely set-up. I have a bummer of a physical limitation so this boat will be my last. The keel is properly installed. I have access to a sling type lift a friend built and can use it anytime. It is located next to the marine so we will run through the keel operation again and then will splash the boat before any repair work is started. Again, thanks for the help and time. SO THIS IS THE WAY IT HAPPENED. Saturday my wife and I were loading the boat to take her to the river for the season. We had checked the lights and brakes for operation and hooked the safety chains up. I had 5/16 inch chain with a new clevis pin to secure it to my 1980 Ford 1/2 ton, 2 wheel drive. The truck also had new rear brakes. After running the engine while testing the lights I switched it off but FORGOT to put it back in gear. We had blocked both the trailer wheels and rear truck wheels on their back sides. We then proceeded to load the cockpit with all the crap a sailor never uses but stuff the "crew" insists on having. This went on for about 45 minutes and I was alone by then. I then climbed down the standard C22 rear boarding ladder, turned my back to the boat and walked the 30 feet into the basement door and heard my wife upstairs screaming my name twice and heard the front door open and her running outside. When I ran back out to the boat I found that the whole rig had launched itself to the right and had gone down a very steep hillside, crossed the intersection and slammed into a large tree. The right front fender, and frame horn had been driven back better than a foot, the class 3 trailer hitch had remained attached to the truck but both truck rear frame rails had been bent downward and the trailer ball assembly was driven into the concrete. The trailer winch tower was bent about 8 inches to starbord, the frame crossmember was bent forward 4 inched and downward 4 inches and the rear 1/2 of the starboard bunk board was broken downward. The boat had sheared the bow eye line that went to the winch and held the bow to the trailer. I had removed the 3 inch tiedown strap that ran over the cockpit infront of the winches while we loaded the boat. The boat went up the bow winch tower, into and over the truck tailgate, right rear side of the bed and landed next to the drivers side. When the police investigated the accident they thought that the act of my steping down the ladder, added to all the weight in the cockpit, unloaded the rear tires enough for the right front tire to break through the soft soil and then momentium took the whole rig down the hill. The emergency brake held until the truck hit the pavement but on that damp grass it offered little help. The tree was 40 feet further ahead and that was all she wrote. We used a logging truck with a self loader to put the boat back on the trailer without further damage and the wrecker then hauled them home. With the slight crown in the area of the driveway where the rig was parked allowed it to move sideways and then run down an entirely different direction, thus the wheel blocks didn't work at all. Additionad blocks on the front side of the tires also would have prevented this accident. Pictures later as my wife is the one that knows that trick. Again, thanks, Ray
The reason I must investigate rebuilding the boat is that it is insured for $5000 and this must run its course before using the hull for a bridge somewhere. Also the boat was completely faired and painted last year and is very very nicely set-up. I have a bummer of a physical limitation so this boat will be my last. The keel is properly installed. I have access to a sling type lift a friend built and can use it anytime. It is located next to the marine so we will run through the keel operation again and then will splash the boat before any repair work is started. Again, thanks for the help and time. SO THIS IS THE WAY IT HAPPENED. Saturday my wife and I were loading the boat to take her to the river for the season. We had checked the lights and brakes for operation and hooked the safety chains up. I had 5/16 inch chain with a new clevis pin to secure it to my 1980 Ford 1/2 ton, 2 wheel drive. The truck also had new rear brakes. After running the engine while testing the lights I switched it off but FORGOT to put it back in gear. We had blocked both the trailer wheels and rear truck wheels on their back sides. We then proceeded to load the cockpit with all the crap a sailor never uses but stuff the "crew" insists on having. This went on for about 45 minutes and I was alone by then. I then climbed down the standard C22 rear boarding ladder, turned my back to the boat and walked the 30 feet into the basement door and heard my wife upstairs screaming my name twice and heard the front door open and her running outside. When I ran back out to the boat I found that the whole rig had launched itself to the right and had gone down a very steep hillside, crossed the intersection and slammed into a large tree. The right front fender, and frame horn had been driven back better than a foot, the class 3 trailer hitch had remained attached to the truck but both truck rear frame rails had been bent downward and the trailer ball assembly was driven into the concrete. The trailer winch tower was bent about 8 inches to starbord, the frame crossmember was bent forward 4 inched and downward 4 inches and the rear 1/2 of the starboard bunk board was broken downward. The boat had sheared the bow eye line that went to the winch and held the bow to the trailer. I had removed the 3 inch tiedown strap that ran over the cockpit infront of the winches while we loaded the boat. The boat went up the bow winch tower, into and over the truck tailgate, right rear side of the bed and landed next to the drivers side. When the police investigated the accident they thought that the act of my steping down the ladder, added to all the weight in the cockpit, unloaded the rear tires enough for the right front tire to break through the soft soil and then momentium took the whole rig down the hill. The emergency brake held until the truck hit the pavement but on that damp grass it offered little help. The tree was 40 feet further ahead and that was all she wrote. We used a logging truck with a self loader to put the boat back on the trailer without further damage and the wrecker then hauled them home. With the slight crown in the area of the driveway where the rig was parked allowed it to move sideways and then run down an entirely different direction, thus the wheel blocks didn't work at all. Additionad blocks on the front side of the tires also would have prevented this accident. Pictures later as my wife is the one that knows that trick. Again, thanks, Ray
Wow
Man, You're lucky you got off the boat when you did or we'd probably be trying to figure out how to inspect and fix hidden damage on you! I am an accident reconstructionist and based on the information you provided regarding the damage to the truck, trailer, boat and highway, a significant amount of energy went through the boat. Without looking it I would guess that the integrity of the superstructure has been breached. It may not be worth the risk of using the boat again since some of that damage may not become apparent until the boat is under the stress of sailing. At the very least, after all of the obvious damage is found, it needs to sit in the water to locate any not-so-obvious problems and then some shakedown sails, maybe with someone else close by in case something happens. Keep us up to date on your progress.
Man, You're lucky you got off the boat when you did or we'd probably be trying to figure out how to inspect and fix hidden damage on you! I am an accident reconstructionist and based on the information you provided regarding the damage to the truck, trailer, boat and highway, a significant amount of energy went through the boat. Without looking it I would guess that the integrity of the superstructure has been breached. It may not be worth the risk of using the boat again since some of that damage may not become apparent until the boat is under the stress of sailing. At the very least, after all of the obvious damage is found, it needs to sit in the water to locate any not-so-obvious problems and then some shakedown sails, maybe with someone else close by in case something happens. Keep us up to date on your progress.
Thank goodness
you and your wife were not on the boat when this happened. Fiberglass can be fixed or a new boat bought. The important thing is that you and your wife are not hurt. I am sorry for your C22 damage but we are all thankful that no one was hurt.
you and your wife were not on the boat when this happened. Fiberglass can be fixed or a new boat bought. The important thing is that you and your wife are not hurt. I am sorry for your C22 damage but we are all thankful that no one was hurt.
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