I ran aground (probably a rock) this past summer and took out a Small (tennis ball size) of lead off the leading edge (at the very bottom)of my Fin keel (approx. 10-15Lbs of lead)..How and what is the best way to repair? Second question. A catalina smile as they say has appeared behind the keel, up near where the hull would join. (About a 15 inch long half moon crack with some fiberglass fuzz showing) Please provide the best way to repair and any advice or concerns. Thank you, Patrick
Lead Keel Repair and Catalina smile repair
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what I would do is
find a good marine surveyor and ask him. Having said that, you could fill the keel hole with MarineTex or it's equivalent and fair it. The smile to which you refer is a different issue than if it was found forward. As it is aft, it might be that you hit with sufficient force as to do push the keel up into the boat causing the rib to crack whereupon the keel sagged opening the gap you now see. Again, see my first recommendation as there is no way for anyone to make an informed judgement simply from the internet.
find a good marine surveyor and ask him. Having said that, you could fill the keel hole with MarineTex or it's equivalent and fair it. The smile to which you refer is a different issue than if it was found forward. As it is aft, it might be that you hit with sufficient force as to do push the keel up into the boat causing the rib to crack whereupon the keel sagged opening the gap you now see. Again, see my first recommendation as there is no way for anyone to make an informed judgement simply from the internet.
Call Catalina direct!
They made the boat. They know the problem. They also know the fix. I am serious! They will tell you how to fix it. I had an hour conversation about a boat I was going to buy and the rep explained the problem I asked about and actually talked me out of buying the boat I was looking at. It wasn't the smile!(it was also ten years ago) They are serious about customer satisfaction! They want to sell new boats. But not by the failure of their old boats! I don't care what MFG we are talking about. Older huners have their pluses and minuses. The Mfg that are still in production have great staff to support the repair of older boats. They don't need the bad name! r.w.landau
They made the boat. They know the problem. They also know the fix. I am serious! They will tell you how to fix it. I had an hour conversation about a boat I was going to buy and the rep explained the problem I asked about and actually talked me out of buying the boat I was looking at. It wasn't the smile!(it was also ten years ago) They are serious about customer satisfaction! They want to sell new boats. But not by the failure of their old boats! I don't care what MFG we are talking about. Older huners have their pluses and minuses. The Mfg that are still in production have great staff to support the repair of older boats. They don't need the bad name! r.w.landau
Call your insurance company before doing any repairs
A grounding such as you describe is normally covered by your insurance.It sounds like you may have more extensive damage than you can see. Take it a step at a time but dont be surprised ifthe repair is fairly expensive. Dan Sheehan AMS
A grounding such as you describe is normally covered by your insurance.It sounds like you may have more extensive damage than you can see. Take it a step at a time but dont be surprised ifthe repair is fairly expensive. Dan Sheehan AMS
Hull should be your priority
You hit something hard enough to gough out a good sized piece of lead. Clearly the impact shock was transmitted to your hull, as one should expect. I don't claim to be an expert on fiberglass hulls, but my off-hand guess is that while the goughed keel might slow you down, the hull damage might sink you. I would think having it surveyed to determine the extent of damage and then repaired is a higher priority than messing with the keel. Good luck. Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
You hit something hard enough to gough out a good sized piece of lead. Clearly the impact shock was transmitted to your hull, as one should expect. I don't claim to be an expert on fiberglass hulls, but my off-hand guess is that while the goughed keel might slow you down, the hull damage might sink you. I would think having it surveyed to determine the extent of damage and then repaired is a higher priority than messing with the keel. Good luck. Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
We need a photo of the hull!!
What you describe is NOT the relatively benign "Catalina smile" and is most likely a major structural problem. When you hit something that hard the aft end of the keel is forced up into the hull and the forward edge is pulled away from the hull. If you hit hard enough to be showing a "15 inch long half moon crack with some fiberglass fuzz showing" you've done some fairly substantial hull damage that will require, at a minimum, a competent surveyor and most likely professional repair depending on your level of fiberglass repair competency and understanding of layup schedules etc.. I would begin by removing the cabin sole near the leading edge of the keel and aft end of the keel to examine the structural grid and or stringers as you most likely done some "un-seen" damage in there as well. Forget the dent in the keel as it's the least of your worries right now and hire a competent marine surveyor!!
What you describe is NOT the relatively benign "Catalina smile" and is most likely a major structural problem. When you hit something that hard the aft end of the keel is forced up into the hull and the forward edge is pulled away from the hull. If you hit hard enough to be showing a "15 inch long half moon crack with some fiberglass fuzz showing" you've done some fairly substantial hull damage that will require, at a minimum, a competent surveyor and most likely professional repair depending on your level of fiberglass repair competency and understanding of layup schedules etc.. I would begin by removing the cabin sole near the leading edge of the keel and aft end of the keel to examine the structural grid and or stringers as you most likely done some "un-seen" damage in there as well. Forget the dent in the keel as it's the least of your worries right now and hire a competent marine surveyor!!
hull damage
Assuming it is a Catalina 27, there is a pan under the cabin sole. Simply removing the deck plates will only allow you to see the pan - not expose the hull where the damage has apparently been done. Either make sure you know what you are looking at or, as I said, get a surveyor to inspect the damage. A dock neighbor in a Catalina 36 did just what you described and his insurance company totalled the boat - there was no apparent damage by simply looking under the sole.
Assuming it is a Catalina 27, there is a pan under the cabin sole. Simply removing the deck plates will only allow you to see the pan - not expose the hull where the damage has apparently been done. Either make sure you know what you are looking at or, as I said, get a surveyor to inspect the damage. A dock neighbor in a Catalina 36 did just what you described and his insurance company totalled the boat - there was no apparent damage by simply looking under the sole.
Epoxy?
I had some similar damage to the keel due to hitting a rock. They wouldn't let me grind at the boat yard, so I smacked it with a 5 lb hammer and reshaped the lead/iron blend as best I could. Then I used some fairing epoxy and filled it in, then painted bottom paint over it. I haven't had it out of the water to see how it is holding up, but epoxy is good stuff. I did have a "catalina smile", but for all I know that was there before. There was no additional leaking. If you don't want a surveyor like the others suggest, and you think there may be damage, you can drop the keel. Catalina Direct has a keel bolt system, and if you check around you can find advice on how to make the smile disappear forever. You can check or repair damage to the hull then. From what I've learned, just about any fiberglass boat damage can be repaired with backyard mechanic skills, and it will be better than before.
I had some similar damage to the keel due to hitting a rock. They wouldn't let me grind at the boat yard, so I smacked it with a 5 lb hammer and reshaped the lead/iron blend as best I could. Then I used some fairing epoxy and filled it in, then painted bottom paint over it. I haven't had it out of the water to see how it is holding up, but epoxy is good stuff. I did have a "catalina smile", but for all I know that was there before. There was no additional leaking. If you don't want a surveyor like the others suggest, and you think there may be damage, you can drop the keel. Catalina Direct has a keel bolt system, and if you check around you can find advice on how to make the smile disappear forever. You can check or repair damage to the hull then. From what I've learned, just about any fiberglass boat damage can be repaired with backyard mechanic skills, and it will be better than before.
I suspect that the damage is more than minor
to take a chunk as large as your showing it must have been a realy hard hit. 15" crack with fuss showing is a lot more than minor damage. contact your ins carrier. a friend of mine several yrs ago grounded his express 30 in like manner. boatyard was able to fix it but it was'nt cheap.
to take a chunk as large as your showing it must have been a realy hard hit. 15" crack with fuss showing is a lot more than minor damage. contact your ins carrier. a friend of mine several yrs ago grounded his express 30 in like manner. boatyard was able to fix it but it was'nt cheap.
That is NOT!!
That is NOT a Catalina smile!! That is a HUGE structural hull crack! DO NOT sail this boat until it has been properly and professionally surveyed and repaired!! The Catalina smile appears along the leading edge of the hull to keel joint where the lead meets the keel stub..
That is NOT a Catalina smile!! That is a HUGE structural hull crack! DO NOT sail this boat until it has been properly and professionally surveyed and repaired!! The Catalina smile appears along the leading edge of the hull to keel joint where the lead meets the keel stub..
I second Main Sails Objection
as a Professional Structural Engineer and Naval Architect. That Glass has been crushed clean through and needs to be professionally repaired from the inside out. Pay your deductable and contact your insurance company to foot the bill. The ding on the leading edge is small change compared to that crack.
as a Professional Structural Engineer and Naval Architect. That Glass has been crushed clean through and needs to be professionally repaired from the inside out. Pay your deductable and contact your insurance company to foot the bill. The ding on the leading edge is small change compared to that crack.
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