I recently purchased a wonderful 85 Cat 22. In my blissful ignorance, I didn't know about the locking bolt for the swing keel. I checked everything else, and it is in great shape. The exception being the keel lock... IT IS RUSTED SOLID. I have tried a number of approaches to loosen the darn thing, and nothing has worked. I am afraid of doing damage to the trunk if I get to aggressive. Does any one have any suggestions???? A second request: Has anyone installed the "fix" Catalina Direct offers to stop the keel "Clunk" when the boat heels. I am considering this modification and would like feedback. Thanks from "Wholata" (As in Whole lot of work, fun, sweat, blood, tears, time etc.)
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rust
hello jon, i thought my keel lock was rusted up also, it would make one turn and stop moving. after fooling with it for a time, i moved on to removing and refinishing the keel, and when the keel was out i thought i could fix any broken parts so i put a lot of force on the lock. it came out, and was not rusted,it was bent. though i did not damage anything, you may have to. damage
hello jon, i thought my keel lock was rusted up also, it would make one turn and stop moving. after fooling with it for a time, i moved on to removing and refinishing the keel, and when the keel was out i thought i could fix any broken parts so i put a lot of force on the lock. it came out, and was not rusted,it was bent. though i did not damage anything, you may have to. damage
It's time for a drink!
Others have had this problem with the keel bolt rusting on this model boat. My bolt fell completely out two years ago and I used a cork from a 1998 Merlot to plug the hole. The bolt is above the water line and not exposed to consant pressure. If the boat capsizes, there is a danger for the keel to swing back a knock a hole in the bottom of the boat. However, if that happens, it will not make any difference. I would recommend a monkey-wrench, WD 40, and a glass of wine. Good Luck!
Others have had this problem with the keel bolt rusting on this model boat. My bolt fell completely out two years ago and I used a cork from a 1998 Merlot to plug the hole. The bolt is above the water line and not exposed to consant pressure. If the boat capsizes, there is a danger for the keel to swing back a knock a hole in the bottom of the boat. However, if that happens, it will not make any difference. I would recommend a monkey-wrench, WD 40, and a glass of wine. Good Luck!
It Could Be Bent
I had the same problem as John. I thought my bolt was rusted but once I got the keel off to reform it I could see the bolt was bent. It was too badly bent to be screwed out so I had to cut it off with a hack saw blade. With a handle on one end of the blade and twisting my gloved hand up into the slot where the keel goes. It took a while but I finally got through the bolt. When I refinished my keel I put the kit in to stop the klunking. Since then I haven't had the problem. Good luck and have a glass of wine for me too.
I had the same problem as John. I thought my bolt was rusted but once I got the keel off to reform it I could see the bolt was bent. It was too badly bent to be screwed out so I had to cut it off with a hack saw blade. With a handle on one end of the blade and twisting my gloved hand up into the slot where the keel goes. It took a while but I finally got through the bolt. When I refinished my keel I put the kit in to stop the klunking. Since then I haven't had the problem. Good luck and have a glass of wine for me too.
Klunk
Regarding the kit to stop the klunking sound. Mine didn't clunk, but it was 25 years old and past time to take a look so I did replace the existing pin and hanger with the new type suplied by Catalina Direct. It sails fine, but now it klunks when retrieved in the up position. I did find that the hole thru the keel was worn on both sides and I guess I'll have to work on that next. Cat.Direct makes a special bushing for that too. I guess part of the fun of owning an older boat is overcoming some of its aging problems. Perhaps that will help me keep forever "young". Dick, hatched in '36
Regarding the kit to stop the klunking sound. Mine didn't clunk, but it was 25 years old and past time to take a look so I did replace the existing pin and hanger with the new type suplied by Catalina Direct. It sails fine, but now it klunks when retrieved in the up position. I did find that the hole thru the keel was worn on both sides and I guess I'll have to work on that next. Cat.Direct makes a special bushing for that too. I guess part of the fun of owning an older boat is overcoming some of its aging problems. Perhaps that will help me keep forever "young". Dick, hatched in '36
Rusted or Bent?
Hi There, Well if you know for sure it is rusted and not bent, then here is a little trick for you to do. Since the location is in fact in a tight place where you really can't get very well, here is what I came up with on an older Cat that belonged to an okd friend. Get a bottle of Navel Jelly, then get not one but 2 suringes( like what is used for diabetics) without the needle attached put the end of the suringe into the navel jelly draw it into tube portion then direct the injection end into and around the locking bolt. Let it set as per directions , Then take the second suringe and draw water into into it and inject that and use repeatedly until your flush water is clear. Then dry area with hair dryer to dry out the bolt area and if need be repeat the process. It took us 4 applications before it backed right out. Hope this helps Happy Sailing
Dave LaPere
Hi There, Well if you know for sure it is rusted and not bent, then here is a little trick for you to do. Since the location is in fact in a tight place where you really can't get very well, here is what I came up with on an older Cat that belonged to an okd friend. Get a bottle of Navel Jelly, then get not one but 2 suringes( like what is used for diabetics) without the needle attached put the end of the suringe into the navel jelly draw it into tube portion then direct the injection end into and around the locking bolt. Let it set as per directions , Then take the second suringe and draw water into into it and inject that and use repeatedly until your flush water is clear. Then dry area with hair dryer to dry out the bolt area and if need be repeat the process. It took us 4 applications before it backed right out. Hope this helps Happy Sailing
Dave LaPereThanks to all.
Thank you to all for your help. I will try everything, especially the wine. Dave, I hate to sound puzzled, but what is Navel jelly?, and where can I get some?
Thank you to all for your help. I will try everything, especially the wine. Dave, I hate to sound puzzled, but what is Navel jelly?, and where can I get some?
Navel Jelly
Hi John, Well Navel Jelly is a Jello like substance that loves to eat rust and rusted metal and you should be able to find some at either your local hardware store, Wal-Mart, or Auto Repair shop. It smells alot like electrolight that is used in lead acid batteries and I suspect the properties are alot alike but with navel jelly you can make it stick to whatever surface you put it on rightside up or upside down and works great. It only takes fresh water to neutralize it, but I always use a bit of baking soda and water before repainting a metal surface just to be sure
Hi John, Well Navel Jelly is a Jello like substance that loves to eat rust and rusted metal and you should be able to find some at either your local hardware store, Wal-Mart, or Auto Repair shop. It smells alot like electrolight that is used in lead acid batteries and I suspect the properties are alot alike but with navel jelly you can make it stick to whatever surface you put it on rightside up or upside down and works great. It only takes fresh water to neutralize it, but I always use a bit of baking soda and water before repainting a metal surface just to be sure
Naval Jelly
Note that the principal ingredient in Naval Jelly is phosphoric acid. This stuff in concentrated form will convert rust to black iron phosphate and is an excellent rust inhibitor. Diluted with water it will remove rust stains if painted on then rinsed off. On big ships the more common compound is Ospho but it is the same stuff. Be careful using it, wear eye protection and gloves.
Note that the principal ingredient in Naval Jelly is phosphoric acid. This stuff in concentrated form will convert rust to black iron phosphate and is an excellent rust inhibitor. Diluted with water it will remove rust stains if painted on then rinsed off. On big ships the more common compound is Ospho but it is the same stuff. Be careful using it, wear eye protection and gloves.
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