Catalina 25 Swing Keel

[odonnellryan]

Hey all!

New to the forum but have been reading a while.

First let me say, the discussion here is awesome. Learned a lot following some of the great threads here regarding boat maintenance and design.

Also really enjoyed some of the "thought experiments" that commonly get posted, so I thought I'd post one myself!

I have a C25 swing keel. Maybe you can see where this is going.

Catalina used to sell something that would probably be considered an insane project: the wing keel (I think it was wing keel) conversion kit for the swing keel C25.

I wouldn't want to do this even if it was still available: sounds so crazy that I'd rather buy a demasted whatever and rebuild that first...not that I'd like such a project.

However, I have another question: what do you think could be done to strengthen an otherwise (from what I know) to be a sound swing-keel trunk and boat overall?

Put a lot of work into this boat, but as it goes I fear the inevitable outgrowing of its sensible usefulness.

I'd rather have something that I can feel adequately safe going coastal cruising in from time to time than worry about the failure of four relatively tiny bolts...

What are your thoughts?

[Stu Jackson]

Welcome, here.

You should also ask the experts:

Association Forum - Catalina 25 Specific Forum

These skippers really KNOW their boats. I used to have one, 1981 #4986, for 13 years.

Sailed from SF to Monterey and HMB any number of times. Fixed fin keel though. Swing keels in salt water need certain extra care. They'll know.