I own a 1983 Catalina '22. I have replaced the winch cable, but have done nothing to the hinge bracket. Any inspection, precaution, or maintainance I should be doing? How common is it to drop a keel? Most of the time I don't even bother lowering the keel. It's one less thing to worry about, and I don't find that I'm sacrificing that much performance. Any thoughts? My hull came out of the water nice and clean this year, but the keel seems to have seperated from the bottom paint. It has always been in pretty good shape. Any thoughts on prepping the keel for a paint job that will last? Thanks, Tom
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Lowering the keel
I can't imagine you having any degree of success sailing at all with the keel raised. When I bought my boat, I had a boat yard check out everything related to the keel and it's mechanism. I considered it to be cheap insurance. Mine had one bolt finger tight and another one on the other side completely gone. The boat yard replaced all 4 bolts and inspected the swing mounting. Everything else was in good condition. Probably once per year to check out things would be sufficient. My guess is that the boats that lose their keel haven't had any preventive maintenance in a number of years or possibly the last time they did have maintenance, the bolts were not torqued properly. Keel loss should not be a major concern. I am still astonished that you get any performance or have any control over direction at all sailing with the keel retracted. Bob
I can't imagine you having any degree of success sailing at all with the keel raised. When I bought my boat, I had a boat yard check out everything related to the keel and it's mechanism. I considered it to be cheap insurance. Mine had one bolt finger tight and another one on the other side completely gone. The boat yard replaced all 4 bolts and inspected the swing mounting. Everything else was in good condition. Probably once per year to check out things would be sufficient. My guess is that the boats that lose their keel haven't had any preventive maintenance in a number of years or possibly the last time they did have maintenance, the bolts were not torqued properly. Keel loss should not be a major concern. I am still astonished that you get any performance or have any control over direction at all sailing with the keel retracted. Bob
Planning to Drop the Swing Keel
Just bought a 1979 Catalina 22. She's been a freshwater boat; but been through three owners prior to me. No impact, no idea on any preventative maintenance done to the swing keel. I know the immediately previous owner never took a look. "Been There Done That" by Frank on 10/29 at 0600
M (on this board) offers a "do it yourself" approach to removing the keel which I'm going to try. I've also received recommendations of lowering the keel into a pre-dug hole as a method of removing it from the boat. That sounds a little easier than Frank's suggestion, but unfortunately the trailer axle is in the way so I can't lower it. On a 22 year old boat, I can say that after the rigging (which appears fine), that keel pivot pin is my biggest concern. Would be interested in how you replaced the cable. Where did you get the replacement cable - Catalina, home made? SJK SENDS
Just bought a 1979 Catalina 22. She's been a freshwater boat; but been through three owners prior to me. No impact, no idea on any preventative maintenance done to the swing keel. I know the immediately previous owner never took a look. "Been There Done That" by Frank on 10/29 at 0600
M (on this board) offers a "do it yourself" approach to removing the keel which I'm going to try. I've also received recommendations of lowering the keel into a pre-dug hole as a method of removing it from the boat. That sounds a little easier than Frank's suggestion, but unfortunately the trailer axle is in the way so I can't lower it. On a 22 year old boat, I can say that after the rigging (which appears fine), that keel pivot pin is my biggest concern. Would be interested in how you replaced the cable. Where did you get the replacement cable - Catalina, home made? SJK SENDSkeel
hello tom, if you are going to remove your keel, CATALINA DIRECT ( 1-800-959-7245 ) has a video that showes how to do it. i used it and it worked out well. if you don't wish to buy the video, remember that the keel weighs in excess of 600 pounds. CATILINA DIRECT also has an owners hand book for the 22 for about $ 10.00, has a list of replacement parts and other usefull info. good luck john
hello tom, if you are going to remove your keel, CATALINA DIRECT ( 1-800-959-7245 ) has a video that showes how to do it. i used it and it worked out well. if you don't wish to buy the video, remember that the keel weighs in excess of 600 pounds. CATILINA DIRECT also has an owners hand book for the 22 for about $ 10.00, has a list of replacement parts and other usefull info. good luck john
Keel Inspection
The boat yard charged me $650 for the complete keel inspection and bottom job. This included blasting both keel and boat, and re-painting with an epoxy type bottom paint. They got the water line right, which it had not been. For this money, they also inspected all of the rigging topside and the keel crank mechanism. As I said in my previous letter, I consider it good insurance, especially given the weight and handling of the keel and their knowledge of how things are supposed to look and work.
The boat yard charged me $650 for the complete keel inspection and bottom job. This included blasting both keel and boat, and re-painting with an epoxy type bottom paint. They got the water line right, which it had not been. For this money, they also inspected all of the rigging topside and the keel crank mechanism. As I said in my previous letter, I consider it good insurance, especially given the weight and handling of the keel and their knowledge of how things are supposed to look and work.
Replacement Cable
Replacing the cable wasn't bad at all. It had become frayed. I released it off the keel (after lowering the keel), unthreaded it thru the hull and took it down to a local boatshop and replaced the cable. Place it back on the keel, threaded it up thru the hull and wrapped it around the winch.
Replacing the cable wasn't bad at all. It had become frayed. I released it off the keel (after lowering the keel), unthreaded it thru the hull and took it down to a local boatshop and replaced the cable. Place it back on the keel, threaded it up thru the hull and wrapped it around the winch.
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