I have aquired a 1983 Catalina 25 fixer upper and have been informed to look out for the swing keel. It seems a few years ago in the club I belong to, a 25 sank because of the swing keel. I could use help from other owners or people in the know on this situation. Do these keels need to be upgraded to be safe or is it a problem with these boats. I have had one person tell me you need to change the cable every two years which if true would mean something was designed poorly. Don't want to put a lot of work or money into a boat I wouldn't feel comfortable on.
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Every two years might be too much
It depends on how much you lower it and raise it. If you either keep it down or up all the time, you could go 3 or 4 years pretty easily. Depends how safe you feel with it. Others may disagree, but this is what I have been told by a few people.
It depends on how much you lower it and raise it. If you either keep it down or up all the time, you could go 3 or 4 years pretty easily. Depends how safe you feel with it. Others may disagree, but this is what I have been told by a few people.
swing keel
DJ.................... Not to worry. If you bought a new boat and want to have peace of mind........... change the cable. But don't get stressed about it. Some of these cables have lasted 20+ years. Change the cable......... buy a 6 pack.... go sailing.
DJ.................... Not to worry. If you bought a new boat and want to have peace of mind........... change the cable. But don't get stressed about it. Some of these cables have lasted 20+ years. Change the cable......... buy a 6 pack.... go sailing.
that boat .. it sank because the swing keel...
did what.. im like really new to sailing.. but i can't see the keel causing a boat to sink. ' i mean,, i could.. but..everything i think of would've done the same to another keel anyway. replace the cable.. um how often are u goin to be sailing and what kind of conditions. still every two years..i dunno.. you do need to do an inspection of the swing keel and its components every so often. like the keel pivot pin,the cable and the winch, but then arent u supposed to inspect most everything on the boat anyways..catalina has been using the swing keel setup for years, so i dont see a design flaw.. did u talk to someone who didnt like catalina boats?? catalina has made one or two boats the last few years..so i dont think they would've gotten to where they are if they didnt do a few things right. but then,, i guess i just biased..
did what.. im like really new to sailing.. but i can't see the keel causing a boat to sink. ' i mean,, i could.. but..everything i think of would've done the same to another keel anyway. replace the cable.. um how often are u goin to be sailing and what kind of conditions. still every two years..i dunno.. you do need to do an inspection of the swing keel and its components every so often. like the keel pivot pin,the cable and the winch, but then arent u supposed to inspect most everything on the boat anyways..catalina has been using the swing keel setup for years, so i dont see a design flaw.. did u talk to someone who didnt like catalina boats?? catalina has made one or two boats the last few years..so i dont think they would've gotten to where they are if they didnt do a few things right. but then,, i guess i just biased..
Keel Cable
The cable needs to be inspected every year.. if in salt water, I'd replace it about every 2 years. If the cable breaks (either due to corrosion, or chafing at the winch or turning ball) and the keel (550 lbs) falls down, it can rip out the trunk in the bottom of the boat which may cause it to sink. To be honest, the boat is well designed and the stress on the winch and cable set-up is much less than it can actually handle. However, if I we're buying a used Catalina, I'd pop for the $100 to replace the winch, cable and turning ball right off the bat and then not worry about it for at least a couple of years. Chris.
The cable needs to be inspected every year.. if in salt water, I'd replace it about every 2 years. If the cable breaks (either due to corrosion, or chafing at the winch or turning ball) and the keel (550 lbs) falls down, it can rip out the trunk in the bottom of the boat which may cause it to sink. To be honest, the boat is well designed and the stress on the winch and cable set-up is much less than it can actually handle. However, if I we're buying a used Catalina, I'd pop for the $100 to replace the winch, cable and turning ball right off the bat and then not worry about it for at least a couple of years. Chris.
It just needs maintenance
I have a 1982 C-22 and it has the original keel cable (I believe). I check it every year, and sometimes during the season for fraying or other damage. If you keep up with maintenance, then swing keels are fine. If you let things go, it may 'let go' and the keel can drop with enough force to damage the keel trunk causing the boat to sink. I would recommend going through your keel and fix anything that is not up to par. Then keep up with annual inspection/maintenance. Regards, Ted
I have a 1982 C-22 and it has the original keel cable (I believe). I check it every year, and sometimes during the season for fraying or other damage. If you keep up with maintenance, then swing keels are fine. If you let things go, it may 'let go' and the keel can drop with enough force to damage the keel trunk causing the boat to sink. I would recommend going through your keel and fix anything that is not up to par. Then keep up with annual inspection/maintenance. Regards, Ted
1500 lb swing keel
The suggestion for concern is appropriate... The 1500 lb keel if dropping unsuported by the winch and cable will crash and fracture the trunk and has led to many sinkings of swing keel C25 boats. It was not a design flaw as much as an unawareness. When the awareness came in the mid '90s, Catalina and other manufactures of similar weight keels ceased production boats with that design. The wing keel was born of the need for a replacement shoal draft design because of the problems with the swing. There are a great many swing keels in use yet however and the prudent owner is carefull about the maintenance to the cable, turning ball, the attachment to the keel and the winch. If the boat is in good condition, many owners convert to a wing some prior to a keel failure and damage and some after. The replacement runs about $3,500 for keel, shipping and installation. A good bit of this cost will show in appreciation as a wing will yield a good bit more value than a swing. The swap is not to gain performance... but rather peace of mind. This dynamic applies to the C25, not the C22 with its much lighter keel.
The suggestion for concern is appropriate... The 1500 lb keel if dropping unsuported by the winch and cable will crash and fracture the trunk and has led to many sinkings of swing keel C25 boats. It was not a design flaw as much as an unawareness. When the awareness came in the mid '90s, Catalina and other manufactures of similar weight keels ceased production boats with that design. The wing keel was born of the need for a replacement shoal draft design because of the problems with the swing. There are a great many swing keels in use yet however and the prudent owner is carefull about the maintenance to the cable, turning ball, the attachment to the keel and the winch. If the boat is in good condition, many owners convert to a wing some prior to a keel failure and damage and some after. The replacement runs about $3,500 for keel, shipping and installation. A good bit of this cost will show in appreciation as a wing will yield a good bit more value than a swing. The swap is not to gain performance... but rather peace of mind. This dynamic applies to the C25, not the C22 with its much lighter keel.
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