"Keel Centering Spacer Kits"

[Gene Neill]

http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=feature.display&feature_ID=48&ParentCat=516

First, are they really "imparitave" like Catalina Direct says they are?

Second, they're supposed to be epoxied on? Can anyone tell me that trick actually works??

I was thinking that, if the spacers really are"imparitave", perhaps I'd just slap a little piece of fiberglass mat (or two, if needed) on either side of the keel where the spacers would go. Cheaper than the kit, and guaranteed not to come off. Also, I can totally control the thickness on both sides.

Thoughts?

 

[allen-deckard]

probably depends on the boat. Personally I don't have them and have no slop in my keel.

The next guy that responds might say they are absolutely necessary.

 

[Nahart51]

I installed them, but I haven't got them wet yet.

What I can tell you is, they are epoxied on and are just thick slabs of a hard plastic or something similar.

Easy to do cheaper yourself, although I got mine on EBay

The trick is where to mount them so they are effective. The kit comes with an explicit diagram.

I can't say if they will be effective, but I suspect they will keep the lowered keel more perpendicular to the hull due to less play athwart ships

 

[Gene Neill]

Thanks. What I'd like is a chance to get up under the boat with a mask and a flashlight while the keel is down, and take a look at things. I've never seen my keel down. If there's any chance I might give the keel hangers some additional longevity, I'd be happy to slap a little glass on the keel until that baby juuuust slips up inside the trunk.

I don't suppose you still have that explicit diagram, do you??

 

[Nahart51]

I'll see if I can find it meanwhile here's a pic from under the boat looking at the keel trunk and apic of the spacers installed.

 

[Gene Neill]

Nice keel!!

 

[Gene Neill]

Oh, is that the spacer, the little rectangle at the very top?

 

[Nahart51]

Yes it's the rectangle at the top of the keel. I couldn't find the diagram. It probably got trashed. I hope you can get the location from the pic.

 

[Gene Neill]

Yes, thanks, I'm sure that ought to do it!

Do you know if the job can be done without dropping the keel?

 

[Nahart51]

Maybe you can see them if you enlarge this picture and decide for yourself.

 

[allen-deckard]

no don't have to drop keel

 

[Nahart51]

That's definitely good news.

 

[Chris Patterson]

The one's from CD are just 4" X 6" pieces of F.R.G. 1/4" thick. No on dropping the keel. And they are held on with MarineTex.

 

[Nahart51]

Yes on Marine Tex. I forgot about that.

 

[Ken]

One caution, many have found the pads thick enough to keep the keel from fully dropping. The fix,sanding little at a time until clearance and full keel drop is reached..

If however you have access to a a lift that will allow full deployment of the keel, thickened epoxy covered with plastic then dropping the keel while it cures will make you custom fit pads.

 

[bnme]

I installed them. Previous owner of my 1984 C22 had faired the keel and fiberglassed it. Also removed the keel lock. I noticed a lot of slap and decided to install the spacers. I painted over them when I installed them. They do reduce the slap! No problems raising and lowering the keel.