Based on in bolts to hold things together I'd suggest going the lag bolt route which is Catalina's approach. I've heard that it might not be all that unusual to find something other than lead when you are drilling into the keel so how easy it is relative. I've tried drilling lead before and frankly it was easier drilling hard steel. Drilling lead is sort of like drilling into a chunk of cheese. Frankly all this keel bolt stuff seems a little over blown - in 40+ years of sailing I've actually never heard of a keel falling off. I've seen them get broken off before but not just up and fall off. Heck my old 22 swing keel clunked along for years after everyone said if I didn't replace the pivot pin right away I was doomed. Last heard it was still clunking along just fine after 20+ years.
Dave - if it ain't broke C27 #5212 Windabout Cape Cod, MA http://dpbcc.home.comcast.net -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 9:31 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: catalina27-talk: Doing the Keel right and other issues. Thank you so much for the information. I bookmarked the diagrams and will be back. Question: If the keel is only about three feet thick, what is stopping me from drilling a really big bolt "2 inch" down through the keel ( to the bottom) and fixing this problem forever. I think two or three of them ought to do it. I will epoxy the bolt on the bottom up for a foot or so, then give it a new bottom paint job. The top will be handled by removing all the old wood (yes it is still there), placing a inch or two of fiberglass ( I am into robust) and then s/s washers and nuts. Is the lead really that difficult to drill? I have drilled a fair amount of metal and lots of granite, I have a great hammer-drill. It can't be that much worse than drilling concrete with a five foot drillbit. Also, I didn't get any feedback on a in mast furling. We just chartered with one, and it was great. Between the rollerfurling jib and the mast furling main, we never had to get out of the cockpit in rough weather. Anybody out there have this stuff in thier boat? Mark #47
