After nearly 2 years of being hign and dry, we finally go our Catalina 22 in new waters today. We have traded, due to a move, the wide open waters of the Atlantic Ocean for a beautiful mountain lake. Other than being pretty dirty, things went pretty smoothly for our first launch. However, the keel does not want to lower all the way. It goes about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way down and then just freezes. I swam beneath the boat and tried to push it, but no go. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I might get it down? We are now keeping the boat in a marina so we will not be trailering it again in the near future. Joseph Washburn "Disciple Ship" 1988 C-22 Banner Elk, NC
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keel locked
check under the forward dinette cushion you have to stick your head in to see the lock which is almost all the way to the top of the dinette fibreglass
check under the forward dinette cushion you have to stick your head in to see the lock which is almost all the way to the top of the dinette fibreglass
If I remember, the keel doesn't go
all the way vertically. Could it be that you are expecting it to go straight down?
all the way vertically. Could it be that you are expecting it to go straight down?
Hmmmm!
Stu, That is an interesting thought I have not had. With all of my experience on this boat being on the NC coastal waters, I had never actually been beneath the boat before. The keel was sticking some, I was able to push it down a little, but maybe it is as far as it goes. I was looking at a picture of the half-hull model that Catalina Direct has--if it is an accurate portrayal, the keel does not go all the way down. I wonder if there is a way to measure the angle to determine where it currently is? I hope my schedule allows us to go back to the boat Sunday--I would like to check the lock down bolt (though, honestly, I have never tightened it myself) and to see if it may infact be all the way down. If you or anyone has a thought of how to check this I am open to iedas. Other than measuring the angle between the hull and the keel I am not sure that I will be able to see enough to determine things by eye sight. Does anyone know what the maximum angle would be when the keel is fully lowered? Joseph Washburn "Disciple Ship"
Stu, That is an interesting thought I have not had. With all of my experience on this boat being on the NC coastal waters, I had never actually been beneath the boat before. The keel was sticking some, I was able to push it down a little, but maybe it is as far as it goes. I was looking at a picture of the half-hull model that Catalina Direct has--if it is an accurate portrayal, the keel does not go all the way down. I wonder if there is a way to measure the angle to determine where it currently is? I hope my schedule allows us to go back to the boat Sunday--I would like to check the lock down bolt (though, honestly, I have never tightened it myself) and to see if it may infact be all the way down. If you or anyone has a thought of how to check this I am open to iedas. Other than measuring the angle between the hull and the keel I am not sure that I will be able to see enough to determine things by eye sight. Does anyone know what the maximum angle would be when the keel is fully lowered? Joseph Washburn "Disciple Ship"
Keel
Well, I would say that every boat may be a little in this respect but my keel goes down all the way with around 29 cranks on the winch. This was important to me because the winch has enough leverage to damage the hull fiberglass if I don't stop cranking. This number of times that I crank my winch may not be the same for each boat. Now the only way that I think one could check is to peer up into the cavity from below with an underwater flashlight and see if the back of the keel is actually hitting the fiberglass. A possible word of caution: If the keel bolt is causing the issue and IF you release the keel bolt and the winch cable is loose, you could cause some damage if the keel swings down free. See this link for how far down the keel goes: Go to the section "RETRACTABLE-KEEL MODEL" to see the approx. angle and where it hits when down to stop the travel. http://www.catalina22.org/manuals/mnl77/manl77.htm ~Bilbo N.E. Ohio
Well, I would say that every boat may be a little in this respect but my keel goes down all the way with around 29 cranks on the winch. This was important to me because the winch has enough leverage to damage the hull fiberglass if I don't stop cranking. This number of times that I crank my winch may not be the same for each boat. Now the only way that I think one could check is to peer up into the cavity from below with an underwater flashlight and see if the back of the keel is actually hitting the fiberglass. A possible word of caution: If the keel bolt is causing the issue and IF you release the keel bolt and the winch cable is loose, you could cause some damage if the keel swings down free. See this link for how far down the keel goes: Go to the section "RETRACTABLE-KEEL MODEL" to see the approx. angle and where it hits when down to stop the travel. http://www.catalina22.org/manuals/mnl77/manl77.htm ~Bilbo N.E. Ohio
Look at the cable on the winch
The cable should show where it has been wet and where it has been dry all of its life. Salt water should really show up.
The cable should show where it has been wet and where it has been dry all of its life. Salt water should really show up.
Lowering problem
I have seen a keel being prevented from lowering fully as a result of someone fitting an anode too near to the forward part of the keel (which goes up, not down!).
I have seen a keel being prevented from lowering fully as a result of someone fitting an anode too near to the forward part of the keel (which goes up, not down!).
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