Keel Retro

[Rich]

I have a 1972 Catalina swing keel.I have been battling the worn keel syndrome for a number of years. It has gotten to the point where the pin is ready to wear thru the keel. I have come up with an idea and am looking for feedback.My friend is a titanium welder. He will make me a titanium u-shaped plate that will go around the top of the keel. There will be holes on both sides where the pin will go thru. We will bolt the titanium to the keel (below the swing point of the pin in order to clear the hull). The pin will then ride on the plates instead of the keel.By the way, he has already machined a titanium pin as well as titanium brackets that house the pin.Am I insane?

 

[Charlie on "Kestrel"]

Don't know?

RICH,I don't know if your insane or if it makes a differance. My keel pin hole had worn to about 1 3/8 x 1 1/2 oblong hole. I had a guy I know with a machine shop bore the hole out to round, make a marine grade stainless bushing, press and weld it in palce. I guess as long as the plate doen't interfere with the swing operation titanium would be OK. Cast Iron can be difficult to weld. You have to make sure that thte holes will line up and the plate will be square to the keel both forward to aft and port to starboard or the keel won't hang right and the boat won't sail right. Good luckCharlie

 

[john renfro]

keel

hello rich, good luck drilling holes in the keelif you are removing the keel, why not just buy a new pin and hangers from cataline direct?good luck ( for real )john