[C38] Cutlass Bearing Strut Faring

[Tom T.]

Interesting discussion on keels as Chuck points out.

Chuck, the long keel skeg on my 38 was actually an extension of the bilge
so zebra mussels would not be a problem unless I sank the boat.

The keel on my boat was low aspect ratio and longer fore to aft than it was
deep.  I am not sure but I would expect the shoal draft version has more
wetted surface than the deep keel which is more efficient.

I wish I had a photo of my keel but my keel bolts extended into the keel
forward next to the head to just fore of the engine door aft.  The long
skeg trailing from the keel to the cutlass bearing/prop also helps the
shoal draft version avoid the famous "death rolls."

I'm pretty sure that photo linked below is for a deep version that has met
a saw somewhere and time since leaving the California factory.  That
remaining little stub of a keel shown is about half the size of  my keel. 
The profile shown on the brochure at the C38 website shows the lines of the
shoal draft keel but fails to show the skeg extension of the bilge to the
prop.


Tom Troncalli





> [Original Message]
> From: Chuck Finn <charles at finn.ws>
> To: Catalina 38 Listserve <listserve at catalina38.org>
> Date: 11/14/2010 12:50:31 PM
> Subject: Re: [C38] Cutlass Bearing Strut Faring
>
> Excellent discussion!  This is why our Association is so important to 
> all of us!  Thank you everyone for contributing!
>
> Here is what I know from my research on this over the years.
>
> 1.   I seriously looked into shortening my keel a few years back as 
> there is a set of locks leading the the St. Lawrence Seaway that allow 
> drafts less than six feet.    Mars Metals out of Canada has made 
> "torpedo" bulbs for C38s and has the mold in storage.  Their calculation 
> was I recall, that a five foot draft would require an additional 500 
> pounds of lead.
>
> 2. The Yankee 38s did not come in a shoal keel as far as I can tell.  
> But, their fin keel design was different than Butler's, so we can 
> probably surmise that Catalina experimented a bit with the keel in the 
> beginning.  I certainly would if I were them and kept seeing the 
> "Catalina Smile!"
>
> 3. Until this discussion, I had not seen a shoal draft version of our 
> boats that had the keel faired the way Tom T. describes.  The ones I had 
> seen looked pretty much like the 1981 model at this website: 
> http://boats.iboats.com/1981-catalina-38/664532.html
>
> 4.  When I was investigating a shoal draft modification,  I had been 
> told by someone at Catalina that the shoal keel bolt configuration was 
> the same as the deep draft keel.  About 10 or so years back, I recall 
> that Catalina even had some shoal drafts keels available....  I have no 
> way of verifying any of this other than my old and sometimes faulty
memory!
>
> My best guess then is Catalina had two keel molds and could choose which 
> one to bolt on to their standard hull based upon the order.  Fairing the 
> keel to the hull is a labor intensive job, which probably allowed the 
> workers and designers some latitude to experiment.   And that is what 
> they did.....   probably to see if they could reduce the prop walk.   I 
> don't think there is any structural aspect to this modification as the 
> two support points for the prop shaft are the motor/transmission mount 
> and the cutlass bearing (packing gland is about keeping water out and 
> does not support).
>
> Tom, how did you keep this long shaft tunnel clean?  Zebra mussels up 
> here would soon pack this tunnel over a summer.
>
> Thanks again to everyone who contributes!
> Chuck Finn
> Commodore
>
>
>
> On 11/14/2010 10:27 AM, Max Soto wrote:
> > What a Dilemma!!
> >
> > Dan, do you have a pic from Blonde Starnger's keel??? There are only 
> > 13 boat from Renata to Blonde Starnger, and both are 1981 models..
> >
> >
> >
> > Renata's keel with skeg is the most different one that I have 
> > seen.I've been collecting pics from C38's for sale, because Estancia 
> > was such in bad shape and modified when I bought it, that I needed 
> > lots of pics in order to tell what was original and what wasn't, and 
> > of course to get tips from other  boats..
> >
> > Tom, I'm going to put a production change on the table for the 
> > following reason:
> >
> > The  silhouette on the original brochure does shows a slightly larger 
> > keel trunk, and one of the most notable differences is the back edge 
> > of the keel (just forgot the technical name!) is perpendicular to the 
> > water line. Let's call it straight!!!!  The deep keel version is 
> > angled, even if the keel draft has been reduced, you'll be able to 
> > tell because of this, but if you look at the attached pic from Chute 
> > the Breeze or the other one I sent a couple of days a go, it looks 
> > just like the shoal keel on the brochure, straight down! without an 
> > angle, that's why I always tought that I had these pics from shoal 
> > draft versions!
> >
> >
> > One more thing, Estancia is 1982, and came with the 1982 brochure 
> > (which is older than the one on the C38 web), and shows no  skeg either.
> >
> > My opinion, evidence shows two shoal draft versions, so who will be 
> > able to confirm a production change???????????
> > Just found another  shoal draft pic on Calatlinaowners.com, has been 
> > attached also..
> >
> > Tom, there is  a known cure for the loss of a C38, but it requires 
> > lot's of money in order to get a newer and bigger boat!!!! Just make 
> > sure that this boat is faster than a C38, other wise, not worth
it....LOL
> > Regards,
> > Max
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Listserve mailing list
> Listserve at catalina38.org
> http://catalina38.org/mailman/listinfo/listserve_catalina38.org