The swing keel on my Catalina 22 has a worn pivot and must be removed and possibly rebushed. I am looking for advice on taking the keel from the boat to make the repair. I have a launch ramp and blocking the boat high enough to drop the keel is not a problem; I am anxious to chat with an owner with this experience. Any and all help will be very appreciated. Robert
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M
Michael
Just remember it's heavy!
I did the swing keel drop and repair several years ago as a preventative measure. I only raised the boat about 10 to 12 inches on the trailer and that was enough to drop the keel. Remember that thing is heavy and wants to tip over sideways! Build a cheap wood "bunk" to keep the keel in line when you disconnect the keel and you'll be ok. What I did was build the bunk/bracing system around the keel while the boat was at it's normal position on the trailer and then I loosened the bolts and raised the boat off of the keel with hydaulic jacks (using blocking on the trailer for safety as I raised it) rather than lowering the keel off the boat. That was easier for me. The hardest part of the job was jockeying the keel back into exactly the right position for reattachment after the repairs since I moved everything during the repair process. If I did it again I might consider using a stout furniture dolly to build the keel "bunk" on to make repositioning and moving that hunk of metal easier.
I did the swing keel drop and repair several years ago as a preventative measure. I only raised the boat about 10 to 12 inches on the trailer and that was enough to drop the keel. Remember that thing is heavy and wants to tip over sideways! Build a cheap wood "bunk" to keep the keel in line when you disconnect the keel and you'll be ok. What I did was build the bunk/bracing system around the keel while the boat was at it's normal position on the trailer and then I loosened the bolts and raised the boat off of the keel with hydaulic jacks (using blocking on the trailer for safety as I raised it) rather than lowering the keel off the boat. That was easier for me. The hardest part of the job was jockeying the keel back into exactly the right position for reattachment after the repairs since I moved everything during the repair process. If I did it again I might consider using a stout furniture dolly to build the keel "bunk" on to make repositioning and moving that hunk of metal easier.
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Robert
Keel Pivot Pin
Hi Mike, I appreciate the advice and will be sure to use it. Do you rememeber how the pivot pin came out? Is the pivot threaded, how is it kept in place? When you made the repair was the hole in the keel enlarged and did you have to drill it out and and rebush it? I have replaced the pivot pins on a McGregor and a San Juan but they are not the same as the Catalina. We do all our own work and repairs in my yard; we are on the water and with all the boats in the family and a few friends tied up here at my dock we have seven boats to take care of. I was planning on taking the trailer out from under the boat but your method sounds somewhat safer and less labot intensive. We must do all our own work mainly because the marinas here are far more expensive than our very limited retirement income can afford so your advice is more help than you can imagine. If you would rather send an email my address is: jayster65@msn.com Thank you; I owe you big time. Robert
Hi Mike, I appreciate the advice and will be sure to use it. Do you rememeber how the pivot pin came out? Is the pivot threaded, how is it kept in place? When you made the repair was the hole in the keel enlarged and did you have to drill it out and and rebush it? I have replaced the pivot pins on a McGregor and a San Juan but they are not the same as the Catalina. We do all our own work and repairs in my yard; we are on the water and with all the boats in the family and a few friends tied up here at my dock we have seven boats to take care of. I was planning on taking the trailer out from under the boat but your method sounds somewhat safer and less labot intensive. We must do all our own work mainly because the marinas here are far more expensive than our very limited retirement income can afford so your advice is more help than you can imagine. If you would rather send an email my address is: jayster65@msn.com Thank you; I owe you big time. Robert
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Bob B.
Your biggest problem might be
when the keel hangar bolts break off when attempting to remove them. Be very careful with them. Soak them and GENTLY get them to move. The keel pivot pin is loose in the hangars and keel. The hangars have blind holes so they keep the pivot pin in place. The hole in the keel will probably be egg shaped from wear. I made an oversized pin with a larger diameter where it fits into the keel and drove it into the keel with hammer and a block of wood. First, I dressed the hole (it was very slightly worn) to make it round. I had the hangar holes machined oversize to match the new pin. I made a SS pin, should have been silicone bronze but no problem. I drilled the hangars for zerk fittings which are made of zink and they do the job and are eaten up over a few seasons in fresh water. Use long (10") lengths of all thread screwed into the weldment pieces to draw the keel and hangars into place. Can do the same thing to lower the assembly. Use slightly different lengths so it is easier to line up the 4 holes with the all thread when raising. Keep the keel cable attached while messing around because it is attached at the top of the keel and helps to keep it from falling over. Good luck from Canada.
when the keel hangar bolts break off when attempting to remove them. Be very careful with them. Soak them and GENTLY get them to move. The keel pivot pin is loose in the hangars and keel. The hangars have blind holes so they keep the pivot pin in place. The hole in the keel will probably be egg shaped from wear. I made an oversized pin with a larger diameter where it fits into the keel and drove it into the keel with hammer and a block of wood. First, I dressed the hole (it was very slightly worn) to make it round. I had the hangar holes machined oversize to match the new pin. I made a SS pin, should have been silicone bronze but no problem. I drilled the hangars for zerk fittings which are made of zink and they do the job and are eaten up over a few seasons in fresh water. Use long (10") lengths of all thread screwed into the weldment pieces to draw the keel and hangars into place. Can do the same thing to lower the assembly. Use slightly different lengths so it is easier to line up the 4 holes with the all thread when raising. Keep the keel cable attached while messing around because it is attached at the top of the keel and helps to keep it from falling over. Good luck from Canada.
M
Michael
I was lucky, I guess
When I did mine it was a straight swap of the old parts to the new ones in the kit I bought from Catalina Direct. The hole in the keel didn't show any major elongation but the pin did show some wear and I therefore didn't need to worry about a bushing, sleeve, etc. Also, I had no trouble with the removal of the bolts after I gave them several shots of rust penetrating "stuff" (I think I used PB Blaster, but most any brand will help loosen things up--just be sure to give it several shots over a couple of days if possible). The pin just slips in--no threads--as described by the previous poster. I can't remember the torque settings recommended for tightening the new hanging bolts but you should be sure to torque it to the recommended specs to avoid breaking off a bolt. Be careful to distribute the jacking loads when lifting the boat by using large/thick pieces of wood between the jack and the hull. Go slowly and watch for hull distortion. Relocate the lifting point a bit if necessary to find a solid lift point. Also, make sure you do this as at least a "two man job" so you have someone watching for potentially dangerous shifts, etc. Good luck!
When I did mine it was a straight swap of the old parts to the new ones in the kit I bought from Catalina Direct. The hole in the keel didn't show any major elongation but the pin did show some wear and I therefore didn't need to worry about a bushing, sleeve, etc. Also, I had no trouble with the removal of the bolts after I gave them several shots of rust penetrating "stuff" (I think I used PB Blaster, but most any brand will help loosen things up--just be sure to give it several shots over a couple of days if possible). The pin just slips in--no threads--as described by the previous poster. I can't remember the torque settings recommended for tightening the new hanging bolts but you should be sure to torque it to the recommended specs to avoid breaking off a bolt. Be careful to distribute the jacking loads when lifting the boat by using large/thick pieces of wood between the jack and the hull. Go slowly and watch for hull distortion. Relocate the lifting point a bit if necessary to find a solid lift point. Also, make sure you do this as at least a "two man job" so you have someone watching for potentially dangerous shifts, etc. Good luck!
J
jsailor
Great Help
The advice you offered is very much appreciated; we will keep a copy nearby as we work on the project. The bolts are my major concern now but we are not in a hurry and will give the penetrant time to work. This is a learning curve for us; we have another vintage Catalina here in our yard that will also need keel attention. The yard is my home on the water near Atlantic City and we have six sailboats at our docks belonging to friends and family. Two are new Catalinas, two are the older Cats, there is one McGregor and one San Juan Sloop. None of us are able to afford the marina prices; if we did not own the waterfront property we would not be in boating that is why the advice you gave is so very appreciated; we have to do it ourselves. Thanks again, Robert
The advice you offered is very much appreciated; we will keep a copy nearby as we work on the project. The bolts are my major concern now but we are not in a hurry and will give the penetrant time to work. This is a learning curve for us; we have another vintage Catalina here in our yard that will also need keel attention. The yard is my home on the water near Atlantic City and we have six sailboats at our docks belonging to friends and family. Two are new Catalinas, two are the older Cats, there is one McGregor and one San Juan Sloop. None of us are able to afford the marina prices; if we did not own the waterfront property we would not be in boating that is why the advice you gave is so very appreciated; we have to do it ourselves. Thanks again, Robert
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