Standing a Catalina 27 on its keel?

[pmeyers]

I am in small town on Vancouver Island. My friend is cosidering the purchase of a 1976 Catalina 27 that someone who used to live here is selling . The boat has been poorly maintained, especially the bottom which has considerable growth. There are no facilities within a reasonable distance for hauling the boat, so the only option is to lean it against a landing on a grid and let it stand on its keel with the tide out in order to clean it.
My question is can the keel support the boat for the purpose that I am describing? Other than leaning against the landing, all of the wieght of the boat will be on the keel. The boat has had the original keelboats replaced with stainless.
Alternatively, can the boat be laid on its side on old tires to be cleaned, one side at a time? These are two techniques that have apparently been used to clean boats previously. Is the Catalina 27 built strong enough to be cleaned using either of these methods.

 

[caguy]

I am in small town on Vancouver Island. My friend is cosidering the purchase of a 1976 Catalina 27 that someone who used to live here is selling . The boat has been poorly maintained, especially the bottom which has considerable growth. There are no facilities within a reasonable distance for hauling the boat, so the only option is to lean it against a landing on a grid and let it stand on its keel with the tide out in order to clean it.
My question is can the keel support the boat for the purpose that I am describing? Other than leaning against the landing, all of the wieght of the boat will be on the keel. The boat has had the original keelboats replaced with stainless.
Alternatively, can the boat be laid on its side on old tires to be cleaned, one side at a time? These are two techniques that have apparently been used to clean boats previously. Is the Catalina 27 built strong enough to be cleaned using either of these methods.

Try calling Catalina in Woodland Hills Ca. They are pretty helpful.
818 884-7700.

 

[pmeyers]

Thanks for the number Caguy,
I did call at your suggestion and while the guy I talked with wasn't enthusiastic about the idea indicated that the keel should be up to supporting the weight if it were secured to the landing in a vertical postion. Sounds like we'll give that a try.

 

[caguy]

I know what you mean. I started to jack mine up by the keel and chickened out after feeling the weight on the jack. The keel looks so thin and fragile.
FYI, I needed to paint under the rollers so I jacked up the second set of roller and all of the other rollers on that side cleared. It did not take a tremendous amount of force either.

 

[planb]

I've had my C 27 on a drying grid before for maintenance, the keel will take the weight, no problem, just watch the forward/aft center of gravity.ie.balance