My boat has a swing keel. I am uncertain how to secure it once it has been lowered. Is there a locking device, and if so, where is it and how is it operated? Also, if not locked, is there a danger that the keel will "give" when water passes over it, or does the cable sufficiently keep it in place?
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swing keel
The cable does no more than lower or raise the keel, at 550 lbs its not likely to move once down. There are the lockers and the non- lockers, me I'm a non locker the last thing I was going to do was screw that bolt into the side of the epoxy I laid up when the keel was off the boat. Besides no one can convince me that a 1/2" bolt pressed to the side of a 550 keel is going to do anything to hold it in place. My best guess is that it satisfied the Insurance folks. In fact I removed mine. You will find the bolt in the hold on the rear port side of the keel trunk, if you do decide to screw it into your keel don't forget to release it before raising your keel or you will be repairing a nice groove.
The cable does no more than lower or raise the keel, at 550 lbs its not likely to move once down. There are the lockers and the non- lockers, me I'm a non locker the last thing I was going to do was screw that bolt into the side of the epoxy I laid up when the keel was off the boat. Besides no one can convince me that a 1/2" bolt pressed to the side of a 550 keel is going to do anything to hold it in place. My best guess is that it satisfied the Insurance folks. In fact I removed mine. You will find the bolt in the hold on the rear port side of the keel trunk, if you do decide to screw it into your keel don't forget to release it before raising your keel or you will be repairing a nice groove.
swing keel
However, in the event of a knockdown from either high wind or waves, you want the keel locked into position, so that the keel will NOT move up. The boat's self righting ability depends on it. I'd rather have a groove in the side of the keel that a boat that will not get up on her feet. In my opinion that would satisfy the insurance folks more than a un-marred keel would.
However, in the event of a knockdown from either high wind or waves, you want the keel locked into position, so that the keel will NOT move up. The boat's self righting ability depends on it. I'd rather have a groove in the side of the keel that a boat that will not get up on her feet. In my opinion that would satisfy the insurance folks more than a un-marred keel would.
mine hasn't moved
My spreaders have been in the water several times.... Keel hasn't moved! As for putting that bolt back in, Not while I own it! Now if there were a hole drilled in the keel I might think differently, but there is NO way in H*** that that little bolt sitting against the back side of the 550 lb keel is doing anything other than giving you a false sense of security. But if it makes you feel better by all means screw it in.
My spreaders have been in the water several times.... Keel hasn't moved! As for putting that bolt back in, Not while I own it! Now if there were a hole drilled in the keel I might think differently, but there is NO way in H*** that that little bolt sitting against the back side of the 550 lb keel is doing anything other than giving you a false sense of security. But if it makes you feel better by all means screw it in.
Well that depends..
I know of a boat that once hit their swing keel on the bottom. You think "So, that's why it is a swing keel?" Well, since it hit pretty good it lifted the keel up quite a bit. And since the keel is 550lbs, like you said, it came back down with enough force to bust all the mounts and the keel winch. Nearly sank the boat. Shock loading makes the force of 550lbs increase exponentially. Could the little lock bolt stop this from happening? It's hard to say. I got to think it would of either done some other damage (side of keel trunk or??)or minimized it at least some. It may of even prevented it. I think it would be a "situation" call for me. Sometimes one way, sometimes the other.
I know of a boat that once hit their swing keel on the bottom. You think "So, that's why it is a swing keel?" Well, since it hit pretty good it lifted the keel up quite a bit. And since the keel is 550lbs, like you said, it came back down with enough force to bust all the mounts and the keel winch. Nearly sank the boat. Shock loading makes the force of 550lbs increase exponentially. Could the little lock bolt stop this from happening? It's hard to say. I got to think it would of either done some other damage (side of keel trunk or??)or minimized it at least some. It may of even prevented it. I think it would be a "situation" call for me. Sometimes one way, sometimes the other.
Catalina Yachts
I bought a '75 swing keel 3 years ago. The previous owner had screwed in the locking bolt while the keel was raised. When he lowered the keel, he bent the locking bolt and tore the glass in the keel trunk. His attempts at fixing the damage was 1/4 a$$ed at best, and the trunk leaked badly while saining. I phoned Catalina Yachts and spoke to a tech there. He advised me to remove the bolt and the glassed in strap completely, then repair the fiberglass. He said that he did not think that the bolt was necessary, and could possibly cause damage to the trunk if the boat ran aground with the keel locked. With out a locking bolt, the keel can lift as the boat goes into shallow water. I will admit that I have run aground more times than I can count, because of the shallowness of my lake, and the way the depth varies because of drawdown, drought, etc. I am glad that I made that phone call.
I bought a '75 swing keel 3 years ago. The previous owner had screwed in the locking bolt while the keel was raised. When he lowered the keel, he bent the locking bolt and tore the glass in the keel trunk. His attempts at fixing the damage was 1/4 a$$ed at best, and the trunk leaked badly while saining. I phoned Catalina Yachts and spoke to a tech there. He advised me to remove the bolt and the glassed in strap completely, then repair the fiberglass. He said that he did not think that the bolt was necessary, and could possibly cause damage to the trunk if the boat ran aground with the keel locked. With out a locking bolt, the keel can lift as the boat goes into shallow water. I will admit that I have run aground more times than I can count, because of the shallowness of my lake, and the way the depth varies because of drawdown, drought, etc. I am glad that I made that phone call.
Swing keel lock bolt
Kevin, I'm a "non-locker" also. I've had a Southcoast 22 and a Macgregor 25 before getting a C22. Neither one had a means to lock the keel down, nor did I ever want one. I used to sail Geist at Indy and now Prairie Creek. I have ran aground or hit things so many times and never had a shock wave through the boats enough to damage anything. The mass of the keel just slowed the boat down to a stop, or just slowed down as the keel dragged across the bottom, road or stump. One time I had my swing keel in the submerged basement of a house. As you know, these reservoir depths vary during the summer. As most will tell you the lock screw really isn't up to the job, but when you have relations with the bottom so much in Indiana lakes, I'd be afraid of more damage simply because it was locked. As for the unlikely case of the keel coming back into the trunk when the boat is on it's side..........I don't worry about that as I wouldn't be on the lake in those conditions. Enjoy your C22, Jon Golliher C22 12712 Happy Daze
Kevin, I'm a "non-locker" also. I've had a Southcoast 22 and a Macgregor 25 before getting a C22. Neither one had a means to lock the keel down, nor did I ever want one. I used to sail Geist at Indy and now Prairie Creek. I have ran aground or hit things so many times and never had a shock wave through the boats enough to damage anything. The mass of the keel just slowed the boat down to a stop, or just slowed down as the keel dragged across the bottom, road or stump. One time I had my swing keel in the submerged basement of a house. As you know, these reservoir depths vary during the summer. As most will tell you the lock screw really isn't up to the job, but when you have relations with the bottom so much in Indiana lakes, I'd be afraid of more damage simply because it was locked. As for the unlikely case of the keel coming back into the trunk when the boat is on it's side..........I don't worry about that as I wouldn't be on the lake in those conditions. Enjoy your C22, Jon Golliher C22 12712 Happy Daze
Locking keel
Actually from what I've read, if the boat's spreaders are in the water the boat still isn't past 90 deg. so the keel may not swing up. IF the boat is past 90deg heel there may be more things to worry about besides a potentially swinging keel. It might be an issue is if there are heavy waves at the same time. Anther concern is if there is a large wake from another boats and the keel swings. If you are in rough weather or not it has been suggested to keep the cabin openings and the cockpit lockers fastened. In the event of a knockdown, it may sink much slower. Scroll down and read about Moonraker Case #32: http://www.ussailing.org/safety/Studies/1998_lmsrf_study.htm At any rate, I decided to not lock mine for the reasons already mentioned and the fact that my lake isn't usually too rough. One might be that the locking bolt tears agroove in the keel and the other is that the keel bends or tears out a hole around the locking bolt.
Actually from what I've read, if the boat's spreaders are in the water the boat still isn't past 90 deg. so the keel may not swing up. IF the boat is past 90deg heel there may be more things to worry about besides a potentially swinging keel. It might be an issue is if there are heavy waves at the same time. Anther concern is if there is a large wake from another boats and the keel swings. If you are in rough weather or not it has been suggested to keep the cabin openings and the cockpit lockers fastened. In the event of a knockdown, it may sink much slower. Scroll down and read about Moonraker Case #32: http://www.ussailing.org/safety/Studies/1998_lmsrf_study.htm At any rate, I decided to not lock mine for the reasons already mentioned and the fact that my lake isn't usually too rough. One might be that the locking bolt tears agroove in the keel and the other is that the keel bends or tears out a hole around the locking bolt.
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