thinking about chopping my keel off 12"

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ScottNeely

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Nov 21, 2012
16
Catalina 30 Beaufort NC
I own a 85' Catalina 30 standard rig with the fin keel drawing 5'-6". I am on the hard right now and am doing some extensive blister repair along with re glassing my keel joint and addressing my Catalina smile.

I am considering cutting 12" or less off the bottom of my keel to make it draw less. I was just wondering if anyone has done this with a C30 standard rig. I wouldn't consider it if I had the tall rig. I think I could with the smaller rig since the tall rig works with the same keel. I am wondering if that small amount of lead being thinner at the bottom would make that much difference in ballast and performance.
 

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The Garbone

The Garbone

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Nov 7, 2012
678
1978 Catalina 30 Wilbur-by-the-Sea
Not a good idea. Maybe you could find a shoal draft junker and swap keels.
 
kito

kito

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Sep 13, 2012
2,011
1979 Hunter Cherubini 30 Clemmons
So you want to get a little closer to the shoal before you run aground? :) That's what a guy told me when I had issues with buying his fin keel C30 and sailing on the Pamlico Sound.
 
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Calif. Ted

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Jun 8, 2004
2,968
Catalina 320 Dana Point
Have you considered that the bottom 12" while thinner, is probably the MOST important part when heeled ? I wouldn't do it, think you'd have bought the boat if the PO had done it ?
 
centerline

centerline

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Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
Calif. Ted said:
(do you) think you'd have bought the boat if the PO had done it ?
Click to expand
this is a very GOOD point.... too many people "customize" their boats so much that it can never be restored to original again without an unreasonable amount of work and money,.... and then wonder why no one is interested in buying it when it comes time to sell it....

I think almost all that read this will agree that they fall into the category of people that would NOT be interested in a boat that has been modified severely from its original hull/rigging plan....
unless they wanted a project and got it cheap enough to repair it and still be within a reasonable price. (but no one wants to sell their boat that cheap, even when they are trying to sell it with some of its keel cutoff and laying in the yard):D

little things like winches, cleats, lines, blocks, sails, and cabin accommodations and accessories can change without any big hits to actual value, but not the general sailing and safety characteristics of the boat... IMHO:)
 
Scotty C-M

Scotty C-M

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Apr 11, 2012
324
Cataina 400 MK II Santa Cruz
Soundsd like a bad idea. One aspect is that the rudder draws less than the keel, which protects it in a grounding. You would lose that protection. The Catalina 30 is a stiff, steady boat. Messing with the keel might affect that righting moment. Do you really want to risk that? As others have said, it would affect resale, and possibly insurance coverage. Mostly, do you really need that shoal draft? I sailed my Catalina 30 for years in shallow areas of the South San Francisco Bay. If you really need less draft, it might be better to buy a boat with that built into the design.
 
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dilligaf

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Oct 18, 2008
45
Jeanneau 49DS Seattle
If you cut-off the keel then why not cut the Mast half way so you can go under a lower bridge? better yet, buy a motor boat
 
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ScottNeely

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Nov 21, 2012
16
Catalina 30 Beaufort NC
Yeah I think most of you are right. I shouldn't mess with it. I did find a company and talked to them today, Mars Keel Technologies. They make keels for tons of production boats and custom ones too. They offer a solution using bulbs of lead attached to the bottom of the keel bolted through and faired out, equal to the weight that you cut off. They calculated that if I cut 12" off, that would be 12-1400 lbs. And at $3 a pound for the new lead bulbs, the cost would be outrageous. I thought it was a neat system though. I will leave well enough alone and stay in the deeper water. If anyone has a junk shoal draft laying around NC let me know. Thanks for all the posts guys...
 
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ScottNeely

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Nov 21, 2012
16
Catalina 30 Beaufort NC
Oh and thanks a lot for the positive feedback Dilligaf!! If you don't have anything helpful to say why say something negative and stupid in a thread that you have no business in! Maybe you should bash on someone you know like yourself!
 
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Bob4203

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Jul 1, 2004
398
Catalina 30 Atlanta GA
Not a good idea, but I do sympathize. I cruised the ICW back in the mid-1980's in my Coronado 35 with a draft of 5' 6". Despite staying within the markers, I ran aground several times, one being a total pain in Georgia. If it were not for that great and powerful Perkins 4-107 diesel to power my way off or out, I'd still be grounded!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Selecting the draft is all about where you cruise and where you plan to cruise and racing. I learned my lesson and I immediately went for the wing keel and the 3+ foot draft (1988 Mark II Catalina 30) so when we head back to the coast, I'll feel alot better. Do not despair, 5' 6" is manageable, but you must run in and out with the tides and the Carolina's and Georgia are all challenges. DO not cut your keel :naughty:

My 3-cents

Bob
 
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obsailor

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Jul 8, 2011
49
Catalina 30Mk III Oyster Bay
Good Old Boat had an article about 10 years ago on this subject. Guy chopped off a foot of his keel and then bolted on to the remaining keel two lead sections from Mars Metal to form a bulb, gave him reduced draft with same ballast but not down as low as original. Try searching GOB for the article
 
azguy

azguy

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Aug 23, 2012
337
Catalina 22 Lake Pleasant
obsailor said:
Good Old Boat had an article about 10 years ago on this subject. Guy chopped off a foot of his keel and then bolted on to the remaining keel two lead sections from Mars Metal to form a bulb, gave him reduced draft with same ballast but not down as low as original. Try searching GOB for the article
Click to expand
This seems like a reasonable solution.....
 
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ScottNeely

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Nov 21, 2012
16
Catalina 30 Beaufort NC
I thought the bolt on bulbs were a good solution as well but pricey. If I could afford it and it appealed to the next B.O. if there is one, I would probably do it as long as performance wasn't and issue and could be proven. Then I would consider it an upgrade. And if that were the case it seems like most people would want it as well. Has anyone out there done this to their fin keel? If so I would love to hear how you like it.
 
jrowan

jrowan

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Mar 5, 2011
1,294
O'Day 35 Severn River, Mobjack Bay, Va.
On a side note, I grew up in NC & used to sail in the Pamlico sound,
although that was in a C 22 with a wing keel then, as a kid. I do recall some
pretty big boats docked in at Beaufort & in Oriental, an NC sailor's haven.

I imagine that the big draft sailboats have to sail in & out with the tides rising,
but there are big boats that cruise those waters, albeit in the center of the channel only.
So it can be sailed, right? I agree with all the other posts about buying a shoal draft,
rather then ruining the sailing characteristics & value of your C 30. But I do sympathize as its surely shallow in those waters.
 
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