Yes it's true... I spent last week doing bottom paint, replacing the keel cable, winch, and turning ball and fairing out the keel at my local boat yard. I launched her Friday and put her in her new slip. Today I fired up the engine and motored out of the marina and made it out beyond the break water and BAM! The keel, which had been in the up position, broke off the cable (a piece of the keel eye bolt is still attached to the brand new cable I put in) and the keel flew down.... and out. I have yet to see what the bottom looks like - but luckily it is not taking on water at all. I confirmed the missing keel by walking a line under the boat from bow to stern... no keel. This is a sad, sad state of affairs. So... I don't know what I'll see when I pull the boat out in the morning. I'll put her on the trailer and go from there... Could have been MUCH worse - a least I still have a boat. I know that Cat Direct has a keel for sale - any other thoughts? I've heard they don't deliver from Sacramento... will the new keel fit a 1975 Catalina or is the fibergalss model too fat? I know the swing keel has its problems - but my gosh! I would love to hear from all you experienced sailors out there... thoughts, tips, inspirational words... I'm a sad sailor tonight. Chris. ps - you should have seen me slide accross the water without my keel when I turned toward my slip... it was like I was on a sheet of ice!
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Brian
Ouch!
Glad nobody was hurt. I am looking forward to your post inspection post. Needless to say I have not ever heard of this happening. But, as I redo my boats bottom and keel, I will be sure to include your lesson. Hope its not to bad, Brian
Glad nobody was hurt. I am looking forward to your post inspection post. Needless to say I have not ever heard of this happening. But, as I redo my boats bottom and keel, I will be sure to include your lesson. Hope its not to bad, Brian
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Bayard Gross
I wonder if keel pin and hangers still on
Amazing your vessel did not heel over. Imagine what would have occured if you were sailing. I cannot prise you enough for your expert seamanship to successfully pilot such a damaged vessel back to your slip. It is my understanding you can pbtain a new keel but it must be purchased through a Catalina Dealer due primarily to shipping issues. As it will not be cheap, I suggest trying to find a used keel if possible. But plan on making repairs, etc. to such keel including installing a new pin with a sleave around it to compensate for an elongated pin hole. Catalina Direct can probably advise you on weather that new fiberglass covered lead and stainless steel keel will fit your boat. I recall reading in Main Brace that someone with a fairly early C-22 did sucessfully install this new keel. Please inform us here when you can as to weather the hangers are still intact and weather there is still a pin between them. If there is a pin, then I suspect the keel pin hole became sufficiently enlarged to where there no longer was any iron keel around the pin to support the keel. And if no pin, then perhaps the pin itself was worn and gave way. I sure would like to know what you find. Good luck and I hope you can find a satisfactory solution to your issues.
Amazing your vessel did not heel over. Imagine what would have occured if you were sailing. I cannot prise you enough for your expert seamanship to successfully pilot such a damaged vessel back to your slip. It is my understanding you can pbtain a new keel but it must be purchased through a Catalina Dealer due primarily to shipping issues. As it will not be cheap, I suggest trying to find a used keel if possible. But plan on making repairs, etc. to such keel including installing a new pin with a sleave around it to compensate for an elongated pin hole. Catalina Direct can probably advise you on weather that new fiberglass covered lead and stainless steel keel will fit your boat. I recall reading in Main Brace that someone with a fairly early C-22 did sucessfully install this new keel. Please inform us here when you can as to weather the hangers are still intact and weather there is still a pin between them. If there is a pin, then I suspect the keel pin hole became sufficiently enlarged to where there no longer was any iron keel around the pin to support the keel. And if no pin, then perhaps the pin itself was worn and gave way. I sure would like to know what you find. Good luck and I hope you can find a satisfactory solution to your issues.
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Chris
Keel Woes...
I'll keep you updated here.. I'll pull the boat out on Friday and inspect the hull. Also, Catalina Factory and CD both have the keel... I might just pick it up myself and save shipping. Chris.
I'll keep you updated here.. I'll pull the boat out on Friday and inspect the hull. Also, Catalina Factory and CD both have the keel... I might just pick it up myself and save shipping. Chris.
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jeff
Retrieve your old keel
I haven't priced a new keel, but I imagine they are not cheap, especially considering shipping or the cost of going to pick it up. For the sake of having options -- have you thought about trying to retrieve it? Hopefully, you have mentally marked the place where the keel fell out. Then provided the location was acceptable I would go get it with some scuba gear and float bags, tow it to shore and take it home. Renting scuba gear or even hiring a professional for a couple of hours may well be cheaper than the associated costs of a new keel from the factory. Besides, think of the salvage story you would have to tell. Good luck with whatever method you choose. I hope you're back on the water without too much delay. jeff
I haven't priced a new keel, but I imagine they are not cheap, especially considering shipping or the cost of going to pick it up. For the sake of having options -- have you thought about trying to retrieve it? Hopefully, you have mentally marked the place where the keel fell out. Then provided the location was acceptable I would go get it with some scuba gear and float bags, tow it to shore and take it home. Renting scuba gear or even hiring a professional for a couple of hours may well be cheaper than the associated costs of a new keel from the factory. Besides, think of the salvage story you would have to tell. Good luck with whatever method you choose. I hope you're back on the water without too much delay. jeff
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Bayard Gross
While you're picking up a new keel,
think you could get one for me too? I just live down the block in Connecticut. Should take you less time to get here than anywhere in L.A. Besides, a story about you're going cross country with a five hundred pound keel in the back of your car has got to be more entertaining than just another old scuba diving salvage story.
think you could get one for me too? I just live down the block in Connecticut. Should take you less time to get here than anywhere in L.A. Besides, a story about you're going cross country with a five hundred pound keel in the back of your car has got to be more entertaining than just another old scuba diving salvage story.
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David Williams
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Chris
That Maryland boat on eBay has no keel...
but it lloks liek a great part out boat if you live closer to Maryland than San Diego... Hurricane Isabel sure was nasty!
but it lloks liek a great part out boat if you live closer to Maryland than San Diego... Hurricane Isabel sure was nasty!
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Ted
My guess is that . . .
. . . the keel came of at the pivot pin first and snapped the eye bolt holding the cable on its way down. If the cable had broke first, the keel most likely would have trashed the keel trunk, but probably stayed with the boat. Your inspection will tell for sure. If I were in your situation, I would probably buy a new keel, because the new ones are far more maintenance free than the old ones. Best of luck, Ted
. . . the keel came of at the pivot pin first and snapped the eye bolt holding the cable on its way down. If the cable had broke first, the keel most likely would have trashed the keel trunk, but probably stayed with the boat. Your inspection will tell for sure. If I were in your situation, I would probably buy a new keel, because the new ones are far more maintenance free than the old ones. Best of luck, Ted
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bernie
look local first
sorry to hear about your keel, you may want to contact some local catalina dealers before heading over to the west coast. coney's in huntington long island may be worth a call. they sell new and used catalina's and just may have an old keel or even a very cheap c-22 for sale that you can buy for parts.
sorry to hear about your keel, you may want to contact some local catalina dealers before heading over to the west coast. coney's in huntington long island may be worth a call. they sell new and used catalina's and just may have an old keel or even a very cheap c-22 for sale that you can buy for parts.
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