Sold the O'Day and bought a 22 swing keel. Wanted to know if the keel should be kept up or down when the boat is on the mooring. New Haven Harbor can get pretty choppy which would favor keeping it down, but then again the cable would have less saltwater corrosion if it was up....
Keel up or down on mooring?
- Thread starter ODay25 Capt
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cable
Even if the cable was up the end will still be in the salt, and it is only as strong as it's weakest spot. The cable should be SS so the salt shouldn't affect it. I have heard of many swing keel guys leaving it down while it is in the water.
Even if the cable was up the end will still be in the salt, and it is only as strong as it's weakest spot. The cable should be SS so the salt shouldn't affect it. I have heard of many swing keel guys leaving it down while it is in the water.
I leave mine down
Hi ODay 25
I leave mine down all summer on my Catalina 22. If the cable breaks when its down it won't hurt the boat as if the keel fell from the top. The diadvantage is that as the boat rocks at mooring the keel tends to sway and it can eventually wear on the piviot point. I keep the keel lock tight to help stop the sway. Just my 2 cents.
Hi ODay 25
I leave mine down all summer on my Catalina 22. If the cable breaks when its down it won't hurt the boat as if the keel fell from the top. The diadvantage is that as the boat rocks at mooring the keel tends to sway and it can eventually wear on the piviot point. I keep the keel lock tight to help stop the sway. Just my 2 cents.
where's the keel lock?
Phil,
Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like I'll do what you do so I want to lock down the keel as well. I just splashed the boat last week and have her twice so I'm still learning my way around her. I have a Catalina Direct manual which is helpful for parts amd upgrading. Do you recommend any other book or manual for a 22 with all the basic tech info (like locking the keel...)?
Spencer
Phil,
Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like I'll do what you do so I want to lock down the keel as well. I just splashed the boat last week and have her twice so I'm still learning my way around her. I have a Catalina Direct manual which is helpful for parts amd upgrading. Do you recommend any other book or manual for a 22 with all the basic tech info (like locking the keel...)?
Spencer
Check this out
Oday 25
I posted a site that shows a picture and gives lots of information. It's the manual for c 22'S I don't know what year you have but many things are the same hope it works. Phil
Oday 25
I posted a site that shows a picture and gives lots of information. It's the manual for c 22'S I don't know what year you have but many things are the same hope it works. Phil
THe 87 manual
Does state this:
"Keeping the keel in the raised position will help prolong the life of the flexible stainless steel cable by keeping as much of it out of the water as possible."
I tried this method in a freshwater lake at a slip and after two seasons my cable was dangerously close to breaking from hinge action at the ball. The cable had several breaks in the strands at one location that you can't observe from topsides. The turning ball also had developed a fair flat spot in one place from the fact that the keel will pivot in any possible direction at that location. This includes L/R (Port and starboard) and rotating with regards to any play in the pin and hole from the front end. This will happen with every wave that the boat takes from the side.
Keeping in mind that it appears that C22 manual is very concerned with electrolytic erosion I think that they didn't address certain other friction issues.
I feel that the more that the boat is rocked while at rest, will increase keel wear. This wear will be exacerbated if the location of the cable is the same all of the time. For example, if the keel and cable is always in the up position. This is why it's my suggestion that although only careful scrutiny of these parts on every fall outhaul of the boat and occasional checking of the cable while in the water is the best prevention tactic it may also be a good idea to vary the location of the keel to spread out this wear factor.
One way to decrease the amount of rocking may be to lower the keel all the way but I don't have my option at our fairly shallow dockage. It can get to be a tad less than 4 ft at times. By lowering the keel it will do some to limit the rocking action, it may transfer some of the strain to the pin and keel hole area. Remember that the hole through the keel is remarkably close to the top edge and it can wear with time and action. I'd recommend having a plan of regular check of these parts no matter how difficult this is because safety is a first priority. You' also want to shim up between the keel and the keel trunk properly to limit the amount of movement at this point Because this is a point of friction. Another issue is to try to really not ground out the keel while sailing. I suspect that if the keel bounces over a rock and then drops to the cable, this could put a great strain on the cable itself, stretching it or possibly causing it to snap.
Does state this:
"Keeping the keel in the raised position will help prolong the life of the flexible stainless steel cable by keeping as much of it out of the water as possible."
I tried this method in a freshwater lake at a slip and after two seasons my cable was dangerously close to breaking from hinge action at the ball. The cable had several breaks in the strands at one location that you can't observe from topsides. The turning ball also had developed a fair flat spot in one place from the fact that the keel will pivot in any possible direction at that location. This includes L/R (Port and starboard) and rotating with regards to any play in the pin and hole from the front end. This will happen with every wave that the boat takes from the side.
Keeping in mind that it appears that C22 manual is very concerned with electrolytic erosion I think that they didn't address certain other friction issues.
I feel that the more that the boat is rocked while at rest, will increase keel wear. This wear will be exacerbated if the location of the cable is the same all of the time. For example, if the keel and cable is always in the up position. This is why it's my suggestion that although only careful scrutiny of these parts on every fall outhaul of the boat and occasional checking of the cable while in the water is the best prevention tactic it may also be a good idea to vary the location of the keel to spread out this wear factor.
One way to decrease the amount of rocking may be to lower the keel all the way but I don't have my option at our fairly shallow dockage. It can get to be a tad less than 4 ft at times. By lowering the keel it will do some to limit the rocking action, it may transfer some of the strain to the pin and keel hole area. Remember that the hole through the keel is remarkably close to the top edge and it can wear with time and action. I'd recommend having a plan of regular check of these parts no matter how difficult this is because safety is a first priority. You' also want to shim up between the keel and the keel trunk properly to limit the amount of movement at this point Because this is a point of friction. Another issue is to try to really not ground out the keel while sailing. I suspect that if the keel bounces over a rock and then drops to the cable, this could put a great strain on the cable itself, stretching it or possibly causing it to snap.
Thanks!
Phil,
Thanks a lot and the manual is invalubale! Now I have competent opinions for both keeping it up and down at the mooring.
Take care,
Spencer C.
Phil,
Thanks a lot and the manual is invalubale! Now I have competent opinions for both keeping it up and down at the mooring.
Take care,
Spencer C.
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