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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Swing Keel in big waves

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Justin
Admiral

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502 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/08/2006 : 07:41:04

Yesterday when I was out watching the Volvo Ocean Race, there was a lot of chop. We went through some very big waves at times and I usually try to approach waves at a 45 degree angle whenever possible. There was one wave we hit in particular that scared me a little. When we came over the crest and slammed down, it was a loud bang! I wasn’t sure if it was just the hull slamming into the wave or if the keel moved as the boat pitched up and down. Is it possible as the boat rides up the wave, for the keel to swing back and then as we came over the crest and pitch down, can the keel then slam into the trunk? That is what scared me, but my bilge was completely dry under the front dinette bench where the front of the keel trunk was.

Other than that we had a great time, you can see my post in the general forum's
[url="http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12506"]VOR thread[/url] with lots of pictures.

Justin
Previous Owner of Sapphire Breeze - 1982 Catalina 25 SK/SR
My sail blog site: https://reveriesailing.com/

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2006 : 08:19:19

Great pics, guys thanks for the shows.

Val on Calista # 3936 Patchogue,N.Y.

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2006 : 09:10:39

"keel moved as the boat pitched up and down."

Mine has never done that... it was probably the boat hitting the water... but I suppose it is possible. Note that some other (big) offshore blue-water boats have swing centerboards and keels.

The head of the swing keel should fit very snugly in the trunk with no side play. It's really what supports the keel laterally. Catalina Direct offers 'fit kits' to help get the 'hand in glove' fit.

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1892 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2006 : 10:36:09

Justin,

Even when all the way down, a C-25 swing keel angles back at nearly 45 degrees. So to get it to move off its stop because of a wave, you'd have to be climbing the face of the wave at an angle steeper than 45 degrees (or whatever that 'angle of the tangle' is for a C-25). I doubt a C-25 would be out in waves that size, nor would it stay afloat in those conditions for a variety of reasons all having to do with not being designed for blue water cruising.

In a situation where you think the keel might actually bang against its stop for any reason, you could take the slack out of the cable so that the cable comes taught just as the keel puts heavy pressure on its stop. That way, the shock of the keel stopping is divided and disipated over a larger portion of the boat's structure.

I've had my C-25 swing keel drop off the lip of steep waves, and yes it did make an impressive sound when it landed in the trough. Sheets of water shot about ten feet high on both sides of the bow. Down below in the cabin, the sounds were even more intimidating, including various creaks, groans, and thumps. The big WHAM! seems to come from the relatively flat hull sections, from just forward of the mast on aft, hitting the water. The misc. thumps sounded like stuff moving around in lockers. I think the creaks and similar noises come from the hull, bulkheads, and liner squirming against each other. I pounded through those conditions for maybe an hour. I don't suggest deliberately putting a C-25 in that sort of situation.

-- Leon Sisson

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Justin
Admiral

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502 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2006 : 10:53:12

Thanks for the input. That loud bang only happened once, but we had some other big waves which were smoother and didn't create much noise except the splashing of the waves. I wasn't aware that the keel was angled back; that's good to know. I was impressed with my C-25, we stayed dry the entire time in the cockpit and she handled well. My brothers on the deck got a little wet, but it was fun.

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2006 : 14:19:55

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Justin
Admiral

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502 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2006 : 14:31:30

Thanks for the picture Frank. That helps to see how it's designed.

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2006 : 14:57:25

Hey Frank, nice looking bottom (the boat). Mine is really trashed. The PO left the tape on for two years and covered the boot strap with VC17. Not only that, it feels the the surface of the moon. Cheers.

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Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2006 : 20:33:30

Nice garage Frank. Did you build it after that runaway car almost wiped out your boat in the driveway last year?

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Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2006 : 06:10:31

I have heard the horror stories about the keel tearing out the bottom of the boat, but I suspect that it may have been because the cable snapped.

I have had my C25 off and on since 1983, been out numerous times in BIG seas and chop. The wind here on the Columbia River can be strong, and opposing a current can provided big, steep waves.

So far, thank God, I have never heard nor felt anything from my keel, though the hull has smashed down hard lots of times and the mast shuddered, etc...

I once hit a big rock at the entrance to a cove...under sail about 3 knots or so....the boat just STOPPED so fast that the wind indicator just snapped off the masthead, the dinghy wacked the transom, etc., but I don't think that 1500 # keel lifted an inch......

Keep a good cable attached, change it more often than you think, and you should be fine. I worry about about sideways "SLOP" I hear about, but my '78 swinger still seems quite solid under me.

Gary B.
s/v Encore! SK/SR #685

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Tanglefoot
1st Mate

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USA
76 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2006 : 09:12:50

Hey, thanks for taking the time to post the pictures, I really enjoyed them!

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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.