[C320-list] Keel bolt tension

[Allan Field]

Joe - You reminded me of something else... When we did a factory tour years
ago, Gerry Douglas recommended torquing the keel bolts at 1 year of age
then leave them alone thereafter. Of course, by the time we heard this,
most of us were way past 1 year of ownership (this was about 2004 when the
Association had an annual meeting/regatta in Marina del Rey). But I went
ahead and did it anyway at my next haulout.

Allan S. Field
Sea Shadow - C387, #103 (formerly C320, #808)
Columbia, MD

On Mon, Nov 30, 2020 at 11:52 AM Joe Luciano <jnluciano at comcast.net> wrote:

> David,
>
> My two cents.  You are correct in needing to insure clean threads and
> proper lubrication prior to any torquing.  I worked in in oil refinery for
> most of my working life and have seen a significant amount of bolt
> tensioning and torquing.  With dry unlubricated threads the values will be
> way off on the high side.  The other problem with stainless steel keel
> bolts is a tendency to gall the threads due to the metal being relatively
> soft.  It’s a difficult thing to do accurately.  I’ve never attempted it on
> my 2005 c-320.  The fact that they are tight and my assumption that they
> were torqued properly at the factory to begin with is enough for me.  My
> boat is nearly always in the water in fairly constant temperature and the
> load on well designed keel bolts shouldn’t be very high.  If they look to
> be in good condition, I wouldn’t sweat it.
>
> Joe Luciano
> Second Wind
> #1024
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Nov 30, 2020, at 6:30 AM, Allan Field <allanfield47 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > David - Per Catalina, the keel bolts get torqued to 235 foot pounds with
> > the weight of the boat resting on the keel on the ground. You can't do
> this
> > in the water. You will need a torque wrench that goes to 250 pounds, a
> > 1.50-inch 6-point deep socket for the keel bolts, and extension bars that
> > will fit between the socket and torque wrench. That said, you think you
> > have 1.00-inch keel bolts which could change things. If so, I would
> suggest
> > you verify the torque pressure directly with Catalina first but this is
> the
> > first I have heard that Catalina had 1.00-inch bolts on these boats.
> >
> > While the Association has a toolbox loaner program and it looks like you
> > are in AU, I don't believe that the AU program has the torque wrench,
> > socket and extensions in their program. But it might help to verify as if
> > they do, then you just pay shipping costs back and forth. [NOTE: I
> > originally put together the toolbox program many years ago and when I
> left
> > 4 years ago, AU did not have the keel bolt tools.]
> >
> > Allan S. Field
> > Sea Shadow - C387, #103 (formerly C320, #808)
> > Columbia, MD
> >
> >
> >
> >> On Mon, Nov 30, 2020 at 7:25 AM Charles Holbrook <
> charlesholbrook at ymail.com>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> David:
> >> When I bought my boat 6 years ago it was in the cradle.  The first
> thing I
> >> did before launching  was to tighten the keel bolts.  I did not loosen
> or
> >> lubricate as I thought that might just cause trouble down the road.  I
> >> borrowed a torque wrench from my local auto repair shop and torqued the
> >> bolts to 235ft/lbs.  Sorry, I don't remember where I got the torque
> specs.
> >> Just google bolt torque specs and you will find a whole menu of
> >> specifications for reference.  All bolts were tight but one and that one
> >> took 1/8th of a turn to tighten.  No keel bolt issues since we have
> owned
> >> the boat.
> >> Charles Holbrook 95'Cat 320"Nautigirl"    On Sunday, November 29, 2020,
> >> 10:39:20 PM EST, David Hayes <davidhayes1 at hotmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> Hi all,
> >>
> >> I have seen a few comments regarding the appropriate tension for keel
> >> bolts, but perhaps not a definitive clarification, so would appreciate
> any
> >> help to confirm what this should be.
> >>
> >> I have a 2006 boat with I think 1-inch bolts; don't necessarily think
> they
> >> are loose but am putting the boat up on the hard stand to do antifoul
> >> shortly and wondered if I should at least check the keel bolts while
> I'm at
> >> it.
> >>
> >> I did see someone suggesting they may be hard to check without
> loosening,
> >> cleaning, lubricating and re-tensioning.....not sure if this is
> warranted
> >> or the only way to check all is ok?
> >>
> >> Any thoughts appreciated.
> >> __________________
> >> David Hayes
> >> Mobile: 0478 956 056
> >> 20 Cooks Outlet Road
> >> Loch Vic 3945
> >>
>
>