Keel Repair
Adrian Balinski
Some may have wondered what the final diagnosis was to the Catalina 30 with the (carbuncle, boil, pimple, blister, bump, tumor, appendage, pick one) on the starboard side of its keel, sitting forlornly in its cradle at Markley. And then again maybe no one did.
For the curious among you who walked by shaking your heads or stopped for a Kleenex to dry your eyes the engine had been pulled for overhaul and either through the engine mounting or because of a severe grounding, through a crack in the bilge, water had moved downward into and within the lead keel.
Catalinas were once built with a large block of wood between the bilge and the keel so it is not impervious to seepage.
It froze and “voila” instant tumor. It did not get behind the paint like a typical blister. It crept into a void inside the lead and the freeze process dented the lead from within.
The first steps were to flake off the weblike cracks in the paint, drill some weep holes, dry the bilge and keel using a torch (and it didn’t hurt to cover the boat to keep all the moisture out). When dry, the infamous Catalina smile was ground out leaving a channel where the keel met the boat. Then came the part I was really concerned about, torqueing
down the keel bolts. All that water could have rotted the wood leaving no support. Don from St. Clair marine reports they snugged right up with no indication of mush underneath. After that seven layers of glass were put up followed by gel coat, moisture barrier, primer and VC 17.
The result I am happy to say is a perfect keel with no leaks so far.
The interior of the bilge showed longitudinal cracks caused by the drying out process. These were sealed with expanding resin in multiple coats laid down prior to launch and for a few days after launch while awaiting the engine. The resin sinks into the wood and expands. The result is a super strong block of resin soaked wood right in the middle of everything.
It has been two years since I last sailed and while I still have some work to do it sure looks like I may be able to get out into the lake some time soon. (How’s that for guarded optimism)? I look forward to finally sailing again and hope to join all of you in one of your jaunts to those exotic lands across the big water.
If you have any questions about the growth on the keel and how it was fixed, stop by river slip 38 and while I am no expert I can tell the story.
Adrian Balinski “Irreconcilable Difference”
