Swing Keel Housing

[Leslie Feeney]

After a rough weather ride I noticed that the keel boat had detached from the internal housing and I was taking on water as the boat rocked at anchor. Thankfully, the hole was above the waterline. However, is this an expected occurence for a swing keeled vessel and what causes such damage. I note the weather was rough but not infrequent for my sailing venue. As a new owner, I have some concerns as to the durability of the keel under certain conditions. I am looking for other boatowner insight and/or experience.

 

[Tim Daley]

Fell out or broke?

It sounds like you are referring to the keel lockdown bolt under the dinette seat ? If so, it might have just come unscrewed and fell out OR it might have broken out. One fix is easier than the other,obviously, as some fiberglass repair will be required

 

[jkleid@excite.com]

lotts-a grease

hopefully its on the bottom of the locker, and when you do replace it, use a lot of grease to prevent any leaks

 

[David Wilson]

reset keel bolt

The maiden voyage (with me as owner) last summer of our '75 Cat 22 was made in rough weather. I did not understand the keel bolt usage, and the keel apparently bashed the loose bolt (badly rusted) so hard that it fell out and huge quantites of water gushed in. We managed to get back to shore and get the boat onto the trailer before sinking (which would have happened, as the boat had 18" of water in it by then). I took the boat to a local fiberglass boat worker, and he gave me an estimate of $175 to reset a new stainless bolt and repair the fiberglass. I consider that a real bargain (and he agreed after struggling to do the work in such a confined space!). Now I have a stainless rig that should outlive me.I find it annoying to have to pull up the seat cushion and comparment cover every time I want to change the keel position, but I really need to do it, as our local dock area is too shallow, except within a couple of hours of high tide (our tides here are 12'!!!).Good luck.