[This note is posted TO the Catalina Owners.com discussion forum and the Sailnet Catalina 30 list server. A copy/CC is sent to Catalina Yachts (Jerry Douglas) and Catalina 30 Assn Tech notes (Dick Dickens).] THANKS for the comments you have provided so far. I’d like to give you an update. CY and I played one round of telephone tag on Wednesday, with call #1 initiated by Jerry Douglas, CY designer/engineer. Although we didn’t talk, I learned from the lift operator today that Jerry called him and they had quite a long talk. I don’t know much about the conversation, as the lift operator was pretty busy. Boat US Insurance was notified on Monday and they want to have a surveyor of their choosing examine the bottom immediately. They said he would call in 1-2 days. He hasn’t yet. Correction to original report: In that report I said the oil canning was seen by the lift operator when the boat was first lifted. I misunderstood. Today he told me the oil-canned hull was not noticed until when the boat was being blocked. [Comment: this seems plauable as the canned 16” indentation would be mostly covered by the 12” wide sling. Also, per the operator, it was late afternoon and getting pretty dark when hauled] So now we have no idea if the damage was immediate, during transit to the power wash area or during the transit to final location. The depth of the 16” diameter indentations is less today than noted last weekend. Port side is virtually flat and starboard is indented about ¼ inch. Each 16” surface should be about ¾”-1” deep convex, vs. flat or concave. I realize just because the hull isreturning to original shape, does NOT mean there is NO structural damage. BOTTOM LINE: Both the cause and the fix are still as uncertain as the Florida election results. THANKS for listening -- stay tuned, and keep those cards and letters coming on your theories about what really happened and how I should proceed!! Dave Gierisch Dave.sheila@prodigy.net 1990 Catalina 30T, 5808, Wing keel [a copy of the original post is below. I will not be included in any future posts] +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Post to Sailnet Cat 30 Forum, 21 November: This is a copy of a note posted 19 November to the Catalina Owners.com "Mid-Size boat" forum, and sent to Catalina Yachts and to Dick Dickens (Cat 30 Assn Tech Notes). Got sympathy from a few members of the forum, but not much useful data other than call your insurance company...FAST (I notified Boat US and they will arrange a damage report by surveyer). Dick never heard of the problem. CY is nil heard so far. I did research "oil canning" on this list's archives, and found a few notes that used that term but not for the situation I have.]] ==================== 19 November post to Catalina Owners.com [with a few edits and minor tech corrections] Sorry about the long note, but I really need advice -- How could a routine annual haul-out with an oversized travel lift result in a crushed (pushed in, dimpled…big time) port and starboard sides of the aft hull area of my 1990 Catalina 30? I wasn’t present when the boat was hauled out on Friday [that’s another marina story] but on Saturday I paid a visit to take care of winterizing. I just arrived and coincidentally the lift was in the area, and the operator came over to tell me about a “problem” at haul-out. He told me both sides “oil canned” under the rear support sling when the boat was raised out of the water! My inspection easily/quickly confirmed his heart-stopping words. Circular indentations about 16 inches in diameter were centered about 2 feet off of the keel centerline. The operator was quick to point out they were not as deep today/Saturday as yesterday, as if that was supposed to be comforting. The center of each indentation was ¾ to 1 inch deep, just eyeballing it. I guess they were 1.5 inches deep yesterday. Tapping the dimpled area yielded an ugly sounding thud, rather than the customary crisp ring and the center of the dimple can be pushed in about 1/16 inch before firm resistance is felt. Based on the telltale sling marks on the bottom paint, she was lifted slightly aft of the recommended location, which the owners book shows to be right in front of the shaft. If I were there, I would have had them place the sling a scant foot more forward, to be exactly at the proper location (almost up against the wing keel). These travel lift slings are huge (12” wide) and should have distributed the load well. The lift is the largest (80 ton and can handle a 25 ft. beam) in the northern Chesapeake Bay area, located at Pleasure Cove Marina on Bodkin Creek, Pasadena MD. The boat has no history of any bottom problems (not even 1 blister) and, she has been hauled out every winter. There is also minor damage to the inside. The cabin liner/sole support immediately to starboard of the companionway ladder is detached from the hull, and there are some hairline cracks in a corner of the liner under the nav table. QUESTIONS -- NEED HELP/ADVICE: 1. Do you know of someone who has had a similar problem on a sailboat… from any manufacturer? I’d sure like to talk to the skipper. 2. Is this a known, rare or unheard of problem with Catalinas? I occasionally work the Catalina/sailing BBs/groups, and never saw anything like this. 3. Do you agree the outer layer of laminant is separated, and major structural repair work is needed….and, perhaps including hull interior reinforcement? 4. Do you have any advice on how to proceed?? Hire a darn good/well experienced surveyor for advice. (Any recommendations who work the Annapolis area) Consult with a fiberglass repair shop? Both of the above, after a good cry? 5. Could the lift or operator somehow be at fault, at least partially? I can’t see how…but, again, I wasn’t there. Thanks, Dave Gierisch Dave.sheila@prodigy.net 1990 Catalina 30T, 5808, Wing keel