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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Swing Keel Damage.....

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ftworthsailor
Captain

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USA
279 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/16/2013 : 13:49:44

I bought this Catalina 25 for DIRT Cheap. I was told that the swing keel cable broke while it was in the cranked up position and the result was that it swung down and broke through the back of the keel housing within the boat. The pivot pins and keel are still in postion with no apparent signs of damage or cracking. The insurance company cut away some of the internal cabinet to provide a better assessment of the damage. Here is a picture of the damage from this access area. Has anyone ever repaired a boat with this sort of damage? Can it be fixed by a good fiberglass guy or is the damage something that is too far gone to deal with?
Here is a picture of the damage keel bunker....

Catalina 25, Hull #779, Built 1978, FK/SR "Miss Natalie"

Catalina 25, Hull #971, Built 1979, SK/SR,"Sea Legs"

"if we get lost, we'll just pull in somewhere and ask directions."

Edited by - ftworthsailor on 09/16/2013 13:58:48

Ape-X
Admiral

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USA
662 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2013 : 14:02:07

many have been fixed (as an observer of this forum) Look for other signs of the boat sinking (waterlines inside cabinets, etc.) to determine other damages resultant of this failure.

G/L with the repairs.

ps: look up trunk repair, keel drop, etc. for the articles

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2013 : 15:05:29

Yup--lots of history here... Use the Search function above, looking for something like "swing keel crack" in the C-25 forum. You'll see discussions and pictures.

Also look for cracks on the outside of the bottom, going forward from the front of the keel trunk.

Edited by - on

BCG-Woodbury
Mainsheet Editor

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USA
396 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2013 : 17:13:39

Hey Ft.Worth - I think the PO said mine was damaged in a similar way. The repair seems to be good. Never had a leak and the pivot appears to be solid. Is your boat in the water or on the hard? If there is no water damage then a repair should do the job. How is the lifting hardware? I just replaced my cable and re-built my winch/stairs. The original winch was bending due to the weight so I welded in 1x1 angle on two sides and secured it to the top stair. 5 Bolts and 3 #10 srews later and it is bullet-proof.

Best of luck with her,

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2013 : 18:27:53

This may help...

[url="http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/tech/tech25/dragn2.asp"]http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/tech/tech25/dragn2.asp[/url]

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2013 : 18:28:56

This may help...

[url="http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/tech/tech25/dragn2.asp"]http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/tech/tech25/dragn2.asp[/url]

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Jweikel625
1st Mate

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USA
59 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2013 : 19:16:38

Ft Worth, I am faced with the same repair before next season. I noticed mine on the day I bought the boat and went sailing. A Small trickle leak when moving. The link above from dlucier to the Dragon tale repair is a great example. The owner of Dragon Tail was great to talk to and very very helpful!!!! The way he did it, was to grind the soft spot out and then glass. I plan on doing it myself, hopefully will remember and have time to document it!!! Good luck!

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ftworthsailor
Captain

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USA
279 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2013 : 20:18:55

Thank you everyone. This does indeed help and with some assistance from club members that have experience with this type of damage, we will plan to drop the keel into a custom cradle, lift the boat and do some external inspection for any other damage from this dropped keel. I really hope that the damage is confined to the keel bunk and is easily fixed. This boat is really in pretty good shape otherwise. Would like to see her back on the water by next summer.

"Sea Legs"

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KiteKraemer
Navigator

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191 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2013 : 11:30:32

Hey! I'm the new owner of Dragontail, and would love to speak with the guy who owned it before my po. How'd you get his # or info? I've tried in the past, but without luck... -kraemer

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2013 : 12:38:38

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by KiteKraemer
 Hey! I'm the new owner of Dragontail, and would love to speak with the guy who owned it before my po. How'd you get his # or info? I've tried in the past, but without luck... -kraemer
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Pretty sure it was Jim Goepel. I'll look for more info.

Paul

Edited by - on

JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2013 : 12:50:39

Paul,
Thanks for thinking of me. I hope you and JD are well!

I don't think either of the C25's in this thread were mine. We were Dragon Wing, and the boat was in NJ. The boat in the pic is from AL, and KiteKraemer references a different boat (I think). Looking at the link above (http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/tech/tech25/dragn2.asp), it looks like a guy named Ken Cave was the owner of Dragon Tail; the article on the keel housing rebuild actually has a link to his E-mail address.

If I'm wrong and someone DID wind up with Dragon Wing, I'd be happy to answer any questions that I can! I worked hard to clean her up, so it would be nice to know that someone will be continuing with the dream and hopefully enjoying her for years to come.

Edited by - JimGo on 09/17/2013 12:54:25

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2013 : 15:30:50

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JimGo
 ...it looks like a guy named Ken Cave was the owner of Dragon Tail...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Sounds right. [url="http://catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=207"]Ken Cave[/url] was a major and highly knowledgeable contributor here when I first started lurking, back in our Trailersailor.com days. You can try him via the e-mail function in his profile (linked to above). He's been gone from here for 10 years--hope he's OK.

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bouy
1st Mate

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33 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2013 : 14:15:43

Had the same problem couple yrs. ago. My boat however was in the water at the time and came close to totally sinking. The damage is repairable. I ordered new swing keel parts from catalina direct and had the trunk repaired by fiberglass guy at the boat yard. Everyting turned out great and there were no leaks. I wish there was a better way to fasten the cable to the keel that would assure you of a fail-safe attachment. Hope you have good luck on your furter inspection.

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ftworthsailor
Captain

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USA
279 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2013 : 14:54:32

I wish there was a better mechanism, like a shock absorber, that would protect the hull from damages should your swing keel cable break - protect the boat and all your personal property kept inside !!!

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2013 : 15:40:45

If I had a swing keel I think I might look at rigging up a second winch and cable. Crank up with one and follow shortly thereafter by tightening up the 2nd cable.

Or maybe have a second cable or Dyneema that you lock into a cam cleat? Just a thought.

Edited by - on

BCG-Woodbury
Mainsheet Editor

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USA
396 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2013 : 16:05:07

Hey Ft.Worth - They used to have a Swing-Wing Keel Conversion Kit but it is no longer made/supported. I would be interested in a conversion on my SK or an option of a safety cable/backup winch. It doesn't sound like it would be hard to do. Changing the cable every 3 years is probably still the least expensive option. I just did mine this year and it was easy, cost about $150 total and took about an hour.

Regards,

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2013 : 08:22:20

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by BCG-Woodbury
 ...They used to have a Swing-Wing Keel Conversion Kit but it is no longer made/supported...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">One of our long-timers converted some years ago after his boat sank twice. Nowadays, it'd probably cost more (purchase, shipping and labor) than the boat is worth, which probably explains the discontinuation.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 09/21/2013 08:23:16

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