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Lost the swing keel

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SailormanCGA72
1st Mate

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77 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/16/2002 : 03:57:08

At the request of OJ, I'll briefly relate the circmstances of how I lost my swing keel on my C25.

Just as I wrote the above, I realized that I didn't 'lose' the swing keel. What happened was that the cable that holds the swing keel parted up inside the swedge. I had inspected the cable and it looked good. What I couldn't see, and what failed was the swedge fitting at the swing keel. The boat was sitting at the dock and a fairly violent storm came through and pounded the boat against the dock. Even though the pounding was mitigated by strategically spaced fenders, the force was enough to give the boat quite a motion. When the cable parted, the aft end of the swing keel swung down with such force that it broke out the trunk in the cabin. Of course the trunk is below the water line and the boat filled with water and sank to where just the cabin top was sticking out of the water. The boat was suspended by the 1/2" bow and stern lines. (No one told me that I was supposed to have smaller lines on such a small boat.) To put this in perspective, I had only recently bought the boat and it had been in the water only 10 days when it sank. Had not even made the first insurance payment. The incident had a profound effect on the remainder of my afternoon.

And that's why I converted to a wing keel.

Edited by - on

Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2002 : 09:33:07

And the morals of the story are:

1. Get a GOOD survey when you buy a boat.

2. Do the maintenance you're supposed to do.

3. Dock with the keel down whenever possible.

The fault here, I would assert, is NOT with the design of the keel.

Brooke

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Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2002 : 13:15:24

I don't think Brook meant any harm there jm. The remark about do the maintenance you should is true. The swingers need more than their share. But all in all sailorman was new to the boat and had not yet familiarized himself with all aspects of the swinger. We all started somwhere Im just sorry to hear it had to be the way it was. Bad luck and who was to know. One good thing of note, sailorman didn't quit he just moved to a wing keel. This should be a good boat to learn with and we look forward to hearing his adventures. Sometimes the post we make here are not quite taken the way they were meant.

Doug&Ruth
Wind Lass
Tacoma Wa.

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Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2002 : 14:54:23

Thank you for the witness, Doug.

Indeed my posting was not meant to be condemnation. I preach grace, and let God do the judging. I was trying to point out the realities of owning a swing keel.

And, as a professional theologian, I don't think God should be blamed for a swaged fitting breaking, especially if it was old/damaged/faulty/whatever. For what it's worth, my SK has been through a Cat 2 Hurricane at the dock, with the keel up, and no damage.

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jm
Captain

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Canada
290 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2002 : 15:22:14

My apologies and retraction then. (poof, it's gone !)
I read the post as though it were directed specifically as 20/20 hindsight at Steve, versus the saving grace to the group at large. And my reference to the Act of God was of the Storm, not the mechanical failure of the swing keel hardware. As we were, in the beginning, all should not end, my brothers, Amen..

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2002 : 17:07:06

Did I miss something? <img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle>

To Sailorman: I'm glad it happened in the slip and that nobody was harmed, and hope your brand new insurance policy helped substantially with your conversion. You now have a more trouble-free boat that combines the advantages of the swing and fin keels while giving up very little. You are to be congratulated for your perserverence and wished many years of pleasure on your "new" C-25!

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette "Passage" in SW CT

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jellyfish
Navigator

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USA
171 Posts

Response Posted - 07/17/2002 : 11:09:58

I dont want to pour gas on a fire as we have had this discussion before but, that is exactly why I wouldnt own a boat with a hole in the bottom of it ever again. the same thing happened to me(not with a Catalina) but another swinger!

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SailormanCGA72
1st Mate

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77 Posts

Response Posted - 07/20/2002 : 07:53:09

Folks I am not the least offended by the posts and Monday morning quarterbacking. It hurt my feelings that my new (to me) boat had sunk, but yes the insurance covered the loss and I have enjoyed untold hours with that boat in the last 15 years. (Gosh has it been that long?). As far as surveying goes, I was at the time a US Coast Guard Marine Inspector and I did inspect the cable and the fitting prior to putting the boat in the water. I found no signs of rust or corrosion around the swedge. Some things you just can't see. It is true though that CynPat was my first sailboat and I had a lot to learn about little plastic boats since my education and experience was directed at ships and oil rigs. Everything turned out all right in the end. Still have the boat and she is waiting for me to come back home from Singapore and give her the attention she requires.
Believe it or not guys, when I retired from the CG and was considering selling my boat, my lovely bride vetoed the idea. Her words were something to the effect that we have had too many good times, the boat is still in good shape, and your future grandchildren will have the same fond memories your children have of spending summer afternoons sailing. God doesn't give out those kind of wives very often. And after being together for 30 years, I love her more now than when we got married. Guess I'll keep both of them, wife and the boat.

Regards,

Steve

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/20/2002 : 21:39:25

Whoah! Good catch, sailor! She's a keeper!

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette "Passage" in SW CT

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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.