Catalina 22 Swing Keel Removal

I had to remove the keel to find where the leak was.
Water was coming in from the keel housing (cavity).
It ended up having a crack next to the keel lock bolt.
I fiberglassed it shut. The keel lock is not necessary in my opinion.
If one runs aground the keel can kick back and not rip out the keel lock.

[@stevepeterson5943]

Same boat, i almost never lock the keel. Occasionally, if its knocking around during a rough overnight, ill lock it, for quiet sleeping but even that's rare. I struck bottom near a shallow beach once while it was locked . . . thought better after that and left it swinging free.
No issues, love the boat, 1973 : )

[@SailingtheWestWind]

I just purchased my second sailboat, a much smaller Catalina 22. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
FYI: You may want to put your keep lock back in. When, not if, you keel your sailboat over, the keel will suck up inside the keel well and get stuck. The keel lock prevents this. Once you keel your boat over it will not self-rite and you will take on water eventually sinking your sailboat. Just a heads up, Catalina put that there for a reason, a big safety reason.
Safe sailing,
Grant

[@svbabyadalynne]

I am not sure how the keel would suck up into the keel well when keeling. You mean it would slide up? I never let my C22 to that extreme...that means the boat have to be perpendicular to the water...it would be uncontrollable. However you are correct if I would flip her over then the keel would slam shut.
It is a long...ongoing discussion.

[@rogerc4196]

Nice work. I have a similar swing-keel boat and I never bolt it either.

[@juancarlosfoust]

Damn. I really hope I can take the keel out on my trailer...

[@jpotlover]

Any updates on this? That bolt with little bite good?

[@svbabyadalynne]

Yes it was fine and I have a second video when I removed the keel again a year plus later…

[@jpotlover]

@@svbabyadalynne I just did my keel hangers without taking it off the trailer. I appreciate this video it helped alot. I just dropped the hitch to the ground put a saw horse under the back then jacked up the hitch. Made the room to replace the keel hangers and pin. Got lucky my pin is tight in the cast-iron keel