Frozen keel lock
It appears you are wisely not trying to force the keel lock and have correctly surmised that damage to that the keel lock area will cause serious leakage and the boat will need to be hauled. Assuming the keel lock is in the tightened position, about the best you can do right now is put on a lot of penetrating oil, let it rest on there for several hours, or even overnight, and hopefully that will get things losened up. Lightly, very lightly, tapping with a small hammer may help, but be careful to make only timid blows. The keel lock tightens clockwise and losens counter-clockwise. If you are able to finally get it lose, put on some good marine grade grease, like Evinrude Triple Guard Grease, on the threads which will not only keep the treads in good condition but also help keep water out. Actually what has occured to you vindicates my decision to keep the keel lock bolt losened when the keel is up and I am at my mooring and only tighten it when the keel is down and I am sailing. The primary reason is the keel lock bolt is stainless steel and the keel is iron. The epoxy and other coverings on the keel can wear exposing the iron of the keel to the stainless steel of the lock dowm bolt. Galvanic electrolysis occurs between these two metals, exasberated by the boat being in water, and especially salt water. The result is the keel lock down bolt may freeze up in its threads and against the keel where it it meets the keel. Also, the iron of the keel will rust away as well. Keeping the lock bolt lose and away from the iron keel avoids this. Now there are those who are concerned as to what may happen if the keel cable suddenly parts and it drops sudenly, an action that could be arrested by having the keel lock bolt affixed. Yes, you can ruin the front part of the keel trunk sufficiently so that the boat will sink. However, cable replacement is relatively easy and fortunately for Catalina Direct, it is easy to obtain a replacement cable. So if your are replacing your cable every so many years, then there should never be an issue of the cable suddenly parting.
