Association Forum - Weeping keel, weeping sailor.

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

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.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Weeping keel, weeping sailor.

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

JoshMcCullock
1st Mate

Member Avatar

USA
68 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/22/2010 : 20:54:39

So, as some of you may know. I have an 80 SR/WK, which is a bit of a rare configuration. My boat was retrofitted with a WK at the factory sometime in the late 80s. I'm quite glad for the WK, it's perfect for where we sail but it has been a bit of a mystery.

We've had Genevieve on the hard (in the driveway) for a couple weeks now. She had some really bad wear marks on the topsides from a lazy PO. They needed to be faired before another season. So, we're taking the winter to give her a whole new paint job. Interlux Flag blue topsides, white deck, white stripes. Should be great...when it's finished.

On to the point. Since she's been in my driveway; I've noticed a persistent spot of moisture near the aft end of the keel joint. I first though it was the easiest place for any moisture on the hull to run down and eventually drip to the ground. But after a week or more of dry weather I knew it couldn't be that. I consulted the Casey Volumes and realized I did indeed have a "weeping keel" situation. As per Don's instructions, I found the crack (about 4 inches) drilled a couple holes and out came the water. Probably about 2-3 cups total.

I'll give it some time to throughly dry out before I grind it out and lay any more glass up there. Anyone else ever dealt with this problem?

<font size="1">(edited by webmaster)</font id="size1">

to life!
Josh
"Genevieve" 1980 SR/WK
Lake Hefner, OKC
www.towindward.tumblr.com

Edited by - JoshMcCullock on 12/22/2010 20:58:41

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 12/23/2010 : 13:19:08

Sorry to hear about your difficulties. Not sure if my story will lend any insight or not, but here goes.

I had a "fiberglass guy" from a Catalina dealer on Lake Erie retrofit my swing keel to a wing keel a handful of years ago. Long story short, he installed it incorrectly, resulting in the keel separating just a tiny bit from the hull thereby allowing water to penetrate the hull and cabin. In short, the boat was sinking, and at an alarming rate.

The fix meant I had a local (Columbus, Ohio) fiberglass guy remove the keel and essentially re-install it, properly.

My point is that while I find it hard to believe that Catalina would have improperly installed the wing keel at the factory, and that it would have waited so long to manifest the symptoms, maybe the end result will be the same. Perhaps your keel bolts loosened over the years, or after who knows how many soft (or hard) groundings. Maybe this lead to the end of the keel with the drips separating a bit from the hull (which is what happened to mine). The keel may need to be dropped, essentially re-glued, and then have the bolts re-torqued according to Catalina specifications. Then glass the heck out of the seam, fair it, paint it, and viola!

Not a complicated job, but a big one in my opinion. It cost me about $2,000 five or so years ago for the labor.

Edited by - on

JoshMcCullock
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
68 Posts

Response Posted - 12/23/2010 : 19:06:20

That very well may be whats going on here. The best I can do now is fix it and watch it closely. The previous owner isn't much help as far as history goes, so I don't have much info on the retrofit keel. Only time will tell. Thanks for the tip though, now I know what to look for in the future!

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 12/23/2010 : 19:20:02

Not being critical, but when you bought the boat did you have it surveyed? if not, maybe this is a good time to have one done. The damage may be more than skin deep.

If one was done, this may be a good time to get in touch with teh surveyor and ask how much of a rebate he would like to offer you to protect his reputation...

Edited by - on

JoshMcCullock
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
68 Posts

Response Posted - 12/24/2010 : 12:00:06

Nope, no survey. After the holiday we'll have it in a reputable shop here in OKC to finish the paint job and we'll get a closer look then.

Edited by - on

bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1773 Posts

Response Posted - 12/26/2010 : 19:42:51

Get a survey BEFORE you do much work so you have a better idea what is really an issue vs. what is cosmetic. I, like you, did not have a survey done prior to buying and sorely wish I had as it would have saved me tons of money and would have focused me on a better priority list.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 12/27/2010 : 17:37:47

Josh, I'm echoing Pete here. Get a survey haste-post-haste. I know you can get the keel fixed pretty easy, but here's the thing - what if the core in the hull is compromised, adn you hit a rock or whatever - all of a sudden you find yourself swimming. I know you have had boats before and you know what you are doing, but this is a big thing to have catch you. I'd hate for you to go deep and find there is more waiting.

Edited by - on

JoshMcCullock
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
68 Posts

Response Posted - 12/28/2010 : 18:31:01

I certainly agree fellas. Finding that crack changed the course of our winter repair list quite substantially! Not just the length of the list, but the "satisfaction" of it. It was, for the most part" cosmetic. Paint, re-bedding, some wiring and upholstery. All things that make the boat look better. Having a structural issue takes all the fun out of it!
I'll have her looked at, thats certain. Hopefully it's isolated. I'll let you know whatever we find out though. Thanks to everyone for their help and insight!

Edited by - on

bootsie
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
8 Posts

Response Posted - 12/28/2010 : 21:25:27

I just had this same issue addressed and repaired myself. I have an 84' Cat 25 that was built as a swing keel boat and in around 1993 was retrofitted with the wing keel in Riviera Beach, Fl. It had leaked between the hull and the keel for quite some time, but the POs private slip on Hutchinson Island was just at about 3 1/2-4ft during low tide and the wing-keel would rest in the mud allowing the boat to rock back and forth,thereby loosening the keel over time. There was about 1-2" inches of silty water in it when I rescued her and by the looks of things it had been going on for a while, I could pump it out and clean it up but it would slowly creep back in and it never got any higher than 1-2". I contracted the hull-job because I was out of state when it was pulled, and they had to drill holes and use the travel lift to raise the bow up allowing all of the water to run out, same scenario as yours...it dripped for 2 straight days too. They couldn't finish fairing and painting until it stopped... Weepy keel, and the tube for where the old swing-keel cables went through was leaking, i had to have it plugged filled and glassed in. Cost me about $1800.00 total including paint and supplies and I would pay it again not to have to do the job. Now if I can just get the windows to quit leaking I'll be doin' pretty good.

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

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.