How to inspect keel pin

[Jacomo Sailor]

I found a brand new keel pin, lifting eye and turning ball inside my new to me boat. I was hoping that these were just spares since it looks like the keel may have been reworked previously. Upon deeper inspection however, it appears that it was probably just wire brushed down and painted as there are some rust bubbles working through on the leading edge and some fairing compound peeling off on one side.

Is there an easy way to tell if the pivot has been rebuilt without dropping the keel? Trying to get my project list together before spring commissioning.

 

[piedpiperIII]

I had to lower my keel to remove the pin and inspect. I cant see how eles you could check it. I was able to put a jack under the front of my keel then unbolt the hangers and lower the keel just enough to check the pin.

 

[Jacomo Sailor]

OK, so it looks like the keel is coming off before spring. Did some more research and looked a little closer and it has definitely been reworked at some point but I'm not sure how long ago. It does have the newer hanger castings that extend past the trunk opening and the head space filler (although it was only installed on the starboard side). The fairing compound that is peeling is only in one spot and that's right on top of MEXICO.

The cable seems to be in good shape with no "stickers" anywhere that I could feel. I pulled the hose and the turning ball shows some wear but not a lot. The winch also appears to have been replaced at some point as the hole in the teak cover board (which wasn't installed) does not line up exactly with the winch shaft. The routed out portion on the back of the cover board is also quite a bit bigger than the face of the winch.

The keel itself looks like it could go a few seasons before needing to be stripped and refinished. However, the problem I discovered is that I can grab the keel and wobble it significantly. I'm guessing that since everything has been replaced in recent years, it's not likely the pin, but probably the bore in the casting. I just hope there is enough meat let in there to sleeve it. Guess I'll find out later, I promised the wife I wouldn't start any projects on the boat until I finished her kitchen remodel.

 

[piedpiperIII]

I do believe, and someone may chime in here. that the keel when in its trailer position will move when you grab and wiggle it. Only when the keel is lowered and it has the spacers will it be tight.

 

[Jacomo Sailor]

I sure hope that's the case. Can anyone else weigh in?

 

[$tingy Sailor]

It shouldn't wobble like you said, "significantly." The keel hangers should be almost flush with the side of the keel. I suggest you put a jack under the front end, remove the hanger bolts, and lower the keel enough to inspect the hangers, pin, and hole. It's probably not bad enough that you need to fix it now, but it sounds bad enough that you need to know how and what is wearing and how long you have before it becomes a serious issue. When you jack it back up, don't overtighten the hanger bolts and use LOCTITE on them, 12-20 ft. lbs. is all they need.

 

[Gene Neill]

My keel moves ALL OVER the place when raised, and it's in almost new condition, along with all the hardware. In a rolly anchorage, it bangs the hull like a midget with a 4 pound sledgehammer, there's no sleeping through it. Lower it halfway or more, it quiets right down. No clunk at all under sail. It does have the spacer kit installed.

But yeah, on the trailer it moves a lot.

 

[Gene Neill]

Okay now that I think about it, I wonder where the slop is in the mechanism. I'll crawl under and give it a look see tomorrow.

 

[Jacomo Sailor]

Thanks guys, maybe it's OK then. The hangers are nearly flush with the keel. I'll try to take a short video and see if you all think it looks like a normal amount of play or something to be worried about. The trailer she's on is built more for a wing keel with a long plate that it sets on, so there is no way to let the keel down with a jack, the entire boat would need to be jacked up off from it.

 

[piedpiperIII]

I see jacomo, I have the original catalina trailer which makes keel service a breese.

 

[Jacomo Sailor]

OK, here's a couple of video clips showing how much wobble is in the raised keel. The second clip has a shot of the hanger and you can also see the head spacer. So tell me what you all think, does this look normal or does she have to come out?

http://youtu.be/62Ud0yYZkNw

http://youtu.be/ODV_GF0iUS8

 

[piedpiperIII]

my keel was not that bad, it also has the upgraded hangers and the pin was not too bad. I am using a new pin and new shims as one of the old had fallen off.

 

[$tingy Sailor]

That's a lot of play. If it were mine, I'd fix it, but to each his own.

I look at it like a sloppy steering gear box on a car that you have to keep turning the wheel from side to side to keep it going straight. You can still drive it and it will get you there, but it's a lot more work than it has to be, it won't handle very well, and it might become a safety issue in an emergency situation.

 

[hawk232]

go to post 15 on this thread (http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=1157875&highlight=) to see a video of mine. mine has the stainless insert and only had minimal wear on the pin. hope it helps!

 

[piedpiperIII]

jacamo, maybe you should jack the boat off the trailer and block it up just high enough that you can lower the keel to inspect. you don't want the keel to fall.

 

[Jacomo Sailor]

Thanks all. I was pretty sure it was too sloppy. I've had the keel out of my Clipper Marine in the past so not a completely foreign project to me, just not really looking forward to it. Oh well, at least I can move that to #1 on my pre-splash project list and I'll certainly have more peace of mind afterward.