Inspecting the keel

[Stan]

How do you actually "inspect " the keel, bolts, etc.? Can you do this when its on the trailer, or do you have to have it hauled up to get a good look?

 

[Charlie14094]

Keel hanger inspection

My keel cable broke (made an awful sound when the keel hit the trunk) and I've just brought the boat home. I managed to raise the keel with somehelp and a couple of lines run under the boat. I'll have to remove the keel to check that nothing is damaged like the hanger bolts or inside the keel trunk. I've had the keel out of the boat before for a complete refinish 4 years ago. I made a sled that goes under the trailer and with blocks of wood high enough to clear the trailer cross members, you support the keel with a hydraulic auto jack and remove the 4 hanger bolts. I had to then raise and block the boat up off the trailer and then move the sled with the keel out from under theboat. This will allow me to get a good look up underneath to where the keel sits and do any repairs I have to. The bottom needs new paint and I'll do that before I put the keel back in. The keel is 600#'s so be very careful and sure of what you plan to do and how you do it.

 

[Ted]

Lower the front

In order to inspect the keel pin and bushings you must remove the four bolts that hold the two bushings near the forward part of the keel. A hydralic jack will do wonders in holding the keel up while you take out the bolts. I would try to squirt some liquid wrench up there and let it soak up the threads for a few days first. Once you have the keel the bolts removed, you can lower the keel a few inches so that it rests on that cinder block and piece of 2 x 4 you have out by the garage.If you lower the keel only enough to remove the bushings, but not enough to clear the keel trunk, it will not fall on you and cause bodily injury. If you like, you could build a keel brace out of those scraps of wood out by the shed.Anyway, once you have the bushings off, the keel pin will proudly display itself and tell you if it is in good shape or bad (that's the inspection part). Assuming all is well, you pump some MARINE grease into the bushings and put the whole thing back together. Torque the bolts to about 15 lbs and then wipe some underwater adhesive in around the bolt heads to keep them from wanting to come out.Have fun,Regards,Ted

 

[Stan]

Ted, dumb question.

Ted, where do you actually access the 4 keel bolts? From the bottom, outside under the boat, or from the inside. Forgive my dumb question, but I am absolutly clueless about this part of my sweet little 22.

 

[Ted]

Answer to dumb question

Actually, the only dumb question is the one you don't ask.Underneath the boat. There will be a piece of metal on both sides of the keel about 1 foot back from the forward most point of the keel. There are 2 bolts in each of 'metal'. Those are the bushings. They fit nicely up in the hull and hold the keel pin.You see the Catalina has/had the *best* keel design of the age because the pin does not go thru the hull. Therefore no leaks from the pin. You remove the 4 bolts holding the bushings to lower (or remove) the keel. There is also the cable in the back of the keel. If you are just inspecting then you need not fuss with it. Just check it over for any wear and tear.I hope this helps. Make sure to brace the keel with redundant supports prior to working on the bolts.Go to www.catalina22.org for more keel info.Regards,Ted