I have a 73' Catalina 22 #2113 and I have heard about the keel pin under the port side seat that needs to be screwed in or out for locking the keel. My question is: Am I or should I be turning this screw when lowering or raising the keel? I have looked at it and it is not moving either way when I turn it. Yet the keel is able to raise up and lower and the boat sails. WTF????
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Keel Pin
The pin would have to have been loose for you to be able to raise the keel. Presumably, the pin is to keep the keel from falling back into the boat at angles of heel > 90 degrees. I put a lot of Vaseline on the threads of mine (to keep it from leaking) back in 1985, and I haven't touched it since. If you lock the keel down and run into something (a log, the bottom, etc.) something's got to give and it won't be cheap. Having the keel swing up in the boat when you are heeled excessively would definitely be bad, but this scenario is not as likely.
The pin would have to have been loose for you to be able to raise the keel. Presumably, the pin is to keep the keel from falling back into the boat at angles of heel > 90 degrees. I put a lot of Vaseline on the threads of mine (to keep it from leaking) back in 1985, and I haven't touched it since. If you lock the keel down and run into something (a log, the bottom, etc.) something's got to give and it won't be cheap. Having the keel swing up in the boat when you are heeled excessively would definitely be bad, but this scenario is not as likely.
In and Out
The bolt should move inward into the keel when you turn it clockwise, and out when counterclockwise. If it doesn't move when you turn it, perhaps the thread is stripped. If so, I hope it is the bolt which would be easier to replace than the nut. Or if you mean you cannot turn the bolt, then use lots of penetrating oil and some time and some strength to back it out. Then use waterproof grease or vaseline on the threads as advised earlier to keep it from leaking.
The bolt should move inward into the keel when you turn it clockwise, and out when counterclockwise. If it doesn't move when you turn it, perhaps the thread is stripped. If so, I hope it is the bolt which would be easier to replace than the nut. Or if you mean you cannot turn the bolt, then use lots of penetrating oil and some time and some strength to back it out. Then use waterproof grease or vaseline on the threads as advised earlier to keep it from leaking.
I think...
..I am going to leave the pin where and like it is. It is not leaking and the keel goes up and down fine. I understand that turning it clockwise and counter will lock and unlock the keel but it will not turn either way. I could spray it and work it till I am able to turn the bolt; but then it may leak (put lube on it). I'm thinking if it's not broke don't fix it. Thanks for the replies fellow sailers.
..I am going to leave the pin where and like it is. It is not leaking and the keel goes up and down fine. I understand that turning it clockwise and counter will lock and unlock the keel but it will not turn either way. I could spray it and work it till I am able to turn the bolt; but then it may leak (put lube on it). I'm thinking if it's not broke don't fix it. Thanks for the replies fellow sailers.
Neube Experience with Keel Bolt
I just bought a C22 and it had this (Keel locking)bolt jammed. I looked up at ti from underneath and found that it had been bent (the keel was probably raised ot lowered with the bolt "in") I asked around and receive a good number of replies from people saying that they never used this bolt, but when I looked up from the bottom I was concerned that the bolt would be hitting the keel when I raised an lowered it, and I wanted to ensure that the all "critical" systems on the boat were in good order. I was able to get about 2 complete turns on the bolt, so I backed it out all the way an went to cutting the handle end off. About 1.5 hours later, and two hacksaw blades (I was using one of the blade handles where the blade sticks out the end) I finally go the handle end cut off of this StainlessSteel 1/2 inch bolt. I then tried to then cut a notch in the new end of the bolt so I could use a screwdriver. About an hour of this and the bold would not budge. I then bought a drill-bit & tap set for a 1/4"-20 and a grade 8 1/4 bolt to put in the end. I was able to drill and tap the hole, even get the grade 8 bolt threadded in, and was able to screw the keel bolt in, untill it was loose, all the way through into the keel well, but now with the 1/4 bolt sticking off the end it was too long to just fall into the keel well. So I had to clamp a vise grip on the 1/4 bolt and cut it off as close to the keel well as possible, finally it came out. So new keel bolt $14 from CatalinaDirect, Bit&Tap $6, about 4+ hours and a little bloody knuckels...... Job done Now I HAD received advise to get a grinder, cut(grind) out the glass around the steel plate that the bolt threads into and, order a new plate and keel bolt and glass the plate back into the same spot. Just cutting the bolt off like I did seemed so much easier. In the end - if you look up from underneath you should be able to see if the bolt will hit the keel. If it looks like it will hit the keel I would still say fix it, although gringin the exising system out an replacing it is probably the way to go. If the boltm is backed out (can you see about 10 threads in the setee compartment?) then you should be alright. Oh - while you are under the trailer you should check how tight the keel retaining bolts are, 4 ss bolts into a brass assembly. These can be checked while the boat is on the trailer. Be sure to us a jack to hold the keel in place if you want to check the whole keel pivot assembly. And NEVER get directly under the keel while you are working on those bolts!
I just bought a C22 and it had this (Keel locking)bolt jammed. I looked up at ti from underneath and found that it had been bent (the keel was probably raised ot lowered with the bolt "in") I asked around and receive a good number of replies from people saying that they never used this bolt, but when I looked up from the bottom I was concerned that the bolt would be hitting the keel when I raised an lowered it, and I wanted to ensure that the all "critical" systems on the boat were in good order. I was able to get about 2 complete turns on the bolt, so I backed it out all the way an went to cutting the handle end off. About 1.5 hours later, and two hacksaw blades (I was using one of the blade handles where the blade sticks out the end) I finally go the handle end cut off of this StainlessSteel 1/2 inch bolt. I then tried to then cut a notch in the new end of the bolt so I could use a screwdriver. About an hour of this and the bold would not budge. I then bought a drill-bit & tap set for a 1/4"-20 and a grade 8 1/4 bolt to put in the end. I was able to drill and tap the hole, even get the grade 8 bolt threadded in, and was able to screw the keel bolt in, untill it was loose, all the way through into the keel well, but now with the 1/4 bolt sticking off the end it was too long to just fall into the keel well. So I had to clamp a vise grip on the 1/4 bolt and cut it off as close to the keel well as possible, finally it came out. So new keel bolt $14 from CatalinaDirect, Bit&Tap $6, about 4+ hours and a little bloody knuckels...... Job done Now I HAD received advise to get a grinder, cut(grind) out the glass around the steel plate that the bolt threads into and, order a new plate and keel bolt and glass the plate back into the same spot. Just cutting the bolt off like I did seemed so much easier. In the end - if you look up from underneath you should be able to see if the bolt will hit the keel. If it looks like it will hit the keel I would still say fix it, although gringin the exising system out an replacing it is probably the way to go. If the boltm is backed out (can you see about 10 threads in the setee compartment?) then you should be alright. Oh - while you are under the trailer you should check how tight the keel retaining bolts are, 4 ss bolts into a brass assembly. These can be checked while the boat is on the trailer. Be sure to us a jack to hold the keel in place if you want to check the whole keel pivot assembly. And NEVER get directly under the keel while you are working on those bolts!
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