Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.
Hi, I'm getting ready to launch the boat for the first time (for me) and have been fixing a few things installed by the former owner. I don't like how some electrical items have been installed.
Do the wires for the keel separation bolts run in parallel or in series to the battery? These are Ensign-Brickford explosive bolts to separate the keel from the boat in an emergency to save the crew.
Your thoughts about these?
Erik
Erik Cornelison 6th Generation Professional Sailor, First Gen Submarine Sailor. 1986 Standard Rig SW. #5234
The problem with those explosive keel bolts is that, like so many other safety devices, they're never tested, to ensure that they'll work properly in an emergency. I suggest you move the boat into about 30' of water and fire them off.
Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind" previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22 Past Commodore
Steve, that's a great idea. The ice is just melted enough at the lake to test it. I'll head out to deeper water as to not block the port marina area. I just bought a new auto inflate life jacket, but I don't want to waste a CO2 cartridge using it for the test, so I'll leave the life jacket in the truck.
Erik
Erik Cornelison 6th Generation Professional Sailor, First Gen Submarine Sailor. 1986 Standard Rig SW. #5234
Before you test the explosive keel bolts make sure to check that the shroud and stay release pins are well lubed and the pull-cables are well within reach at the cockpit. If it should be necessary to release the keel in an emergency you need to be able to release the rig as well, or the boat could become difficult to manage. These pins, which connect the turnbuckles to the chainplate eyes in place of ordinary clevis pins, sometimes become encased with salt and can be resistant to withdrawl. I wish Catalina Direct would come out with pull-cables made of flexible unobtainium so I would not worry about snapping them when my adrenaline is really flowing.
The trouble with a destination - any destination, really - is that it interrupts The Journey.
Lee Panza SR/SK #2134 San Francisco Bay (Brisbane, CA)
Lee, thanks for the heads up on the pull cables leading to the cockpit, I didn't even think about that. For some reason unknown to me, the explosive bolts are set to be fired from inside the cabin. This must be for a safety reason I guess. My stay and release pins aren't lubed either....they are bent. Add another thing to fix. So much knowledge here..thanks..
Erik
Erik Cornelison 6th Generation Professional Sailor, First Gen Submarine Sailor. 1986 Standard Rig SW. #5234
First, row the boat to a safe anchorage then dinghy ashore. Then you may fire the bolts remotely from a secure location. I would rig a line and float to the keel so it may be located for retrieval at a later date. Be sure to take pictures or a video.
Mike Chariots of Fire 1981 Cat-25. sail number 2230 SR/SK Dinette Version
Lee, thanks for the heads up on the pull cables leading to the cockpit, I didn't even think about that. For some reason unknown to me, the explosive bolts are set to be fired from inside the cabin. This must be for a safety reason I guess. My stay and release pins aren't lubed either....they are bent. Add another thing to fix. So much knowledge here..thanks..
I'm confused. If you take the boat into 30' of water and test the release, don't you run the risk of losing the keel ? Shouldn't you take the boat into a protected area, maybe your backyard ? Better still, try the garage. That way you can keep everything away from weather related issues. Please remember to wear PPE, your personal protection equipment.
"Lady E" 1986 Catalina 25: Fin Keel, Standard Rig, Inboard M12 Diesel, Sail No. 5339 Sailing out of Norwalk Cove Marina, Connecticut
Steve's correct, this is all about safety. I'm going to test the system first the way it is setup...firing the explosive bolts from inside the cabin in deep water. I will have a friend video it.
Erik
Erik Cornelison 6th Generation Professional Sailor, First Gen Submarine Sailor. 1986 Standard Rig SW. #5234
This is confusing to me also. Sounds like crashing your car into a brick wall just to see if the airbags work. In what situation would you intentionally want to loose the keel? So you test the bolts to see if they work, Then what, Replace them with new bolts? But wait, How can you be sure they will work? This could become a vicious cycle. This sounds like prop wash.
Scott-"IMPULSE"87'C25/SR/WK/Din.#5688 Sailing out of Glen Cove,L.I Sound
Thank you all for this thread on 1 April. The idea for explosive keel bolts was a “fake” submarine qualification question to brand new non- qualified submarine sailors, some took the bait, some didn’t but always a fun topic.
Be assured my questions will be real for the next 364 days.
Erik
Erik Cornelison 6th Generation Professional Sailor, First Gen Submarine Sailor. 1986 Standard Rig SW. #5234
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.