Our Catalina 22's swing keel cable snapped today when we were lowering the keel. No damage was done to the boat, but we are stuck without a way to raise the keel. First, is there a way to pull the boat onto a trailer with a lowered swing keel? Doesn't seem likely to me, but maybe there is a temporary fix in order to be able to fix the boat on land. Second, does anyone have experience connecting a new cable onto the boat, while it is in the water? Any help is appreciated! Thanks.
Need info on snapped swing keel cable
- Thread starter Redhaven
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When mine broke I wrapped a line around the keel (towards the end), making a loop with the bitter ends and cross over at the bottom or forward edge of the keel. I used the jib winches to haul it into the trunk, alternating winching little by little on each side until it wouldn't go any further.
I was getting out of shallow water and back to my moor but I think this should get the keel high enough for a trailer.
I was getting out of shallow water and back to my moor but I think this should get the keel high enough for a trailer.
Thanks for the reply. I like the idea of using the jib winches to bring up the keel. How did you attach the line to the keel? Did you dive into the water to attach it?
Yes, I made a loop in the line with the middle of the loop on the back side of the keel so that when I pulled it up the line didn't block the keel from entering the trunk. Kinda like this:
Attachments
Red,
If you search the archieves, you'll find a lot of info on replacing the cable. IIRC "Catalina Direct" has the cables.
I used a piece of ss wire rope from the hardware store. Not nearly as nice as the original equipment.
Good luck.
If you search the archieves, you'll find a lot of info on replacing the cable. IIRC "Catalina Direct" has the cables.
I used a piece of ss wire rope from the hardware store. Not nearly as nice as the original equipment.
Good luck.
I think that it would be very difficult to replace the cable in the water, if not impossible. U need to be able to connect the stainless cable to the U bolt at the keel. The U have to feed it into the fiberglass tube to the winch, all while under water? Good luck with that. I'd recommend hauling out onto blocked jack stands high enough to expose the keel pocket for the repair. If the cable was worn enough to snap, then the bronze pinion may also need servicing, as it never gets much attention. U can sail with the keel down, but it will bang on the leading edge against a trailer. The C 25 I had was very similar in design.
When you pull the boat onto the trailer it will shove the keel back up into the housing just by pulling the boat forward. When you refloat the boat later it is possible for the keel to drop down between trailer crossmembers and prevent the boat from sliding off the trailer.
If the cable is still attached to the keel and you can feed the remains of it up through the cable hole then it can be captured and secured and will hold the keel in the raised position.
If you can dive, or have a diver, then you can attach a new cable, feed it up to the keel winch and re-attach it to the winch. You also can sling or otherwise support the boat and then look at the entire keel assembly. The diagrams at Catalina Direct are a good resource for your information.
Ray
If the cable is still attached to the keel and you can feed the remains of it up through the cable hole then it can be captured and secured and will hold the keel in the raised position.
If you can dive, or have a diver, then you can attach a new cable, feed it up to the keel winch and re-attach it to the winch. You also can sling or otherwise support the boat and then look at the entire keel assembly. The diagrams at Catalina Direct are a good resource for your information.
Ray
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