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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Swing keel separation bolts

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Erik Cornelison
Navigator

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USA
194 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/01/2018 : 06:48:03

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

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5851 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2018 : 07:06:25

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

Erik Cornelison
Navigator

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USA
194 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2018 : 09:34:58

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

Lee Panza
Captain

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USA
465 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2018 : 11:01:35

Erik:

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)

Erik Cornelison
Navigator

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USA
194 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2018 : 13:13:48

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

Lee Panza
Captain

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USA
465 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2018 : 13:32:42

Yeah, make sure those things are lubed for quick pull-out.

Cheez, this is starting to sound like a sailing anarchy forum ;-)

Happy 4/1.

The trouble with a destination - any destination, really - is that it interrupts The Journey.

Lee Panza
SR/SK #2134
San Francisco Bay
(Brisbane, CA)

C25BC
Navigator

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Canada
200 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2018 : 14:42:29

I had mine removed when I bought the boat , had the release channels filled and welded , boat points much better now .

Angus
S.V.Tempus
#4748
1984 Catalina 25 SK/SR/Trad.

Erik Cornelison
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
194 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2018 : 14:52:50

Lee you're right, I don't want this thread to be crazy like the SA forum, therefore I won't ask how about lubing seacocks.

Angus thanks mentioning pointing ability and its relation to safety.

Erik

Erik Cornelison
6th Generation Professional Sailor, First Gen Submarine Sailor.
1986 Standard Rig SW. #5234

sailboat
Navigator

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USA
149 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2018 : 16:05:19

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

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4275 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2018 : 16:58:44

quote:
Originally posted by Erik Cornelison

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

Somebodies got to flip on the circuit breaker!

Association Member

GaryB
Andiamo
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX

SKS
Navigator

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USA
161 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2018 : 17:06:32

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 Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5851 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2018 : 17:18:50

quote:
Originally posted by SKS

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 ?

Yes, but you'll know for sure that the separation bolts work. You can't put a price on safety!

Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind"
previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22
Past Commodore

Erik Cornelison
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
194 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2018 : 18:06:46

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

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4275 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2018 : 18:41:45

quote:
Originally posted by SKS

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?

It's OK, he's a submarine sailor.

Association Member

GaryB
Andiamo
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX

Edited by - GaryB on 04/01/2018 18:42:50

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3992 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2018 : 04:28:23

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

Edited by - islander on 04/02/2018 04:57:34

JamesBird
1st Mate

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USA
68 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2018 : 05:02:15

You guys are kidding, Right? explosive keel bolts???

Jim
Danvers, MA
79 Cat25/SR/SK/(1185)

Erik Cornelison
Navigator

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USA
194 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2018 : 06:30:48

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

sethp001
Mainsheet C-25 Tech Editor

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814 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2018 : 15:26:09

Thanks for this post, Erik!

Seth
"Outlier" 1987 Catalina 25 SR/SK/Traditional Interior #5541
"Zoo" 1977 Morgan Out Island 30
"Nomad" 1980 Prindle 16
"Lost" 1988 Catalina Capri 14.2 (sold - yay!)
"Marine Tex 1" Unknown Origin POS 8' Fiberglass Dinghy
https://whichsailboat.com/2014/07/27/catalina-25-review/

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