Bolts and Keel Maintenance
Must agree with other comments - those bolts don't sound normal - they sound like they could be the bolts that keep the keel hangers afixed to the hull...They are supposed to be flush, but because they are tight. Catalina Direct sells an inexpensive primer and LocTite productd that will help them stay flush and firm once placed correctly. Keel winch and cable replacement are misleadingly simple. From topsides, it is simple. But from below, it is a different matter. You must have enough room to drop the keel low enough to expose the retaining pin fixture that holds the keel to the cable. This is impossible to do on a trailer unless you raise the boat 6" or so - done by jacking the boat up on the trailer and placing the appropriate blocking between the trailer bunks and the hull. With a little common sense and prior planning, a hydraulic jack, the appropriate scrap wood, the whole project can be done in an afternoon. While it sounds difficult, it really is not that hard. You might want to do this anyway just to inspect some aspects of the keel and trunk before you purchase your boat. Chances are, if you are replacing the cable and winch, you ought to replace the whole assembly - cable, winch, turning ball, cable hose, and retaining pin. Most strongly recommend you replace the winch with a Catalina made winch. All of this, including a video on how to do it, is available at Catalina Direct if you are so inclined. Scott
