Jaguar 22 keel question

Dyflin

Dyflin

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I read the Catalina 22 (American built Jag' 22) 1977 owners manual regarding the swing keel and there seems to be an underlying tone of think twice before keeping the boat in salt water; "Keeping a retractable-keel model in salt water for lengthy periods is not recommended."

This seemed like a very basic requirement and so I just thought I'd ask any current or past Jaguar 22 owners if there were any specific problems and if they had fitted an anode to the keel near the pivot assembly?
 
I don't think this is much of a problem.

About 20 years ago I recovered a jaguar 22 (for the owner)which had sunk at it's mooring.
It was in tidal waters (5 metres high to low) so it wasn't too much of a task.

The keel had dropped off because of poor maintainence by the previous owner.

A replacement keel was fitted and the boat went on it's merry way.

I came across the same boat in a marina 15 years later, 150 miles away, still owned by the same person. He had used it every year since the sinking without any problems.

He sailed it off the Scotish east coast.
 
Two years ago a Jaguar 22 on a drying mooring off the River Roach in Paglesham, on the East Coast, suffered the keel dropping off. Luckily he was coming back to his mooring at the time and managed to recover the keel at the next low tide with no other damage. Perhaps this is a systemic issue.
 
I owned a Jag 22 and kept her on a swing mooring during the season at Ballywalter Co Down. I didn't have a problem afloat, but one season one of the four bolts that attach the keel assembly became loose, requiring repair to be sure. I found that the washers that hold the bolt was on the small side, so I replaced it with a bigger one and fiberglassed the bolt back in place generously. Fortunately this was on the port side of the boat, so there is access at the locker under the forward seat of the table. If there is a problem on the starboard side a hole would need to be cut on the floor.

Checking is what I think the manual is pointing to - which since it has bilge legs you can beach to check.

To be sure I would tend to beach her a couple of times a season and crawl under to check that all is OK. Besides the problem with the bolts loosening the other problem would be the spindle wearing through. However this would be obvious on a visual inspection.

I found it a great wee boat. Don't let this put you off - just be aware and check regularly.
 
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