Keel cracking on a catslina 30

[sailsupnwegone]

I'm told on top of the keel to the bottom of boat they have what is referred to as a Catalina smile. Does anyone have info on this?

 

[rbmcintire]

"The Smile" has been a topic we've discussed here many times. Do a search of this C-30 forum and you will pick up quite a thorough background on this issue. Google "Catalina 30 Smile" and you will get many other sources on this as well. Is there any particular aspect that you want to find out about? The simple explanation is that the keel moved and/or the hull flexed. There are various reasons for why those conditions can happen.

Rob

 

[Stu Jackson]

Here are some photos: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,6842.msg45567.html#msg45567

 

[Me and Boo]

Do some searching on the various sailboat forums. West System has a paper on how to fix it as does Catalina Yachts. If you have an early boat of the first design then you probably have wood in the hull to keel joint area. You might need to dig that out and fill it with a hard substance, install new bolts and then fix the "Smile".