Keel confused

[Ed Mollencupp]

We have a 75 22 and are new to sailing My question is we are starting in a small lake and shallow do we need to lower the keel and lock or can we leave it up?please help

 

[Keith K.]

Lock it.

Whenever you are sailing you must have the keel down and locked. If you don't a gust of wind could knock you down quite easily.I only put mine up when I'm motoring. When it's anchored or at the marina I leave it down to make it more stable.Just don't forgot to loosen the keel lock before raising or lowering the keel. Keith K.C22 S/V Vesta#6348

 

[john k]

WIND SPEED

I HAVE A C22 AND DO NOT SAIL SINGLE HANDED PAST 15 MPH WIND SPEED WITH THE KEEL DOWN EVEN AT 10 SHE WONT RESPOND, NOT TO TALK ABOUT KNOCK DOWN WIND GUST WHICH IS BAD ON SMALL LAKES. 75S DO NOT HAVE POS. FLOTATION SO IF WOU DO NOT MIND HAVING PEOPLE LOOK AT YOU MAST HEAD AS YOU HAVE IT FLOTED TO THE SURFACE BY SKIN DIVERS - YOU GO GIRL. ALSO CHECK YOU KEEL BOLTS ON A SMALL LAKE YOU BOB A LOT AT ANCHOR AND AM PRON TO LOSSING IT TO THE BOTTOM WILE SAILING. (4 BOLTS 600LB)LISTEN TO YOUR CABLE SING.

 

[Bob F.]

Keel use

If the lake is too shallow for the keel to be down all the way, you need to find a different body of water. The only reason the keel swings up on the Catalina is to allow trailering or beaching in shallow water. Keep the keel down whenever sailing. It's purpose is to keep the boat moving forward instead of sliding sideways and to give stability against the mast and sail which is trying to tip the boat over. When it is cranked up, it is doing neither. With the keel cranked up and the main sail up, a gust of wind will roll the boat over in a heartbeat. Needless to say, when it rolls over and having no floatation, she is going to the bottom!I recommend that you get some experienced help to go with you for the first several times.