Member
posted 23 March 2002 04:34 PM
Hi all,
I have just got a lifting keel sonata. One of the jobs I have to do is free off the lifting keel. The keel blade is in the up position at the moment, probably for about two years! Has any of you done this job? Are there any tips for me, before I start using brute force?
Cheers,
Austin Holden
qbot2@aol.com
New Member
posted
15 May 2002 12:42 PM
‘Seasprite’ is faced with the same problem. Have you been successful in freeing the keel on your boat yet? If so were you able to do it without paying to have the boat lifted in a sling?
Member
posted
15 May 2002 05:19 PM
My swing keel is still stuck, although I have now removed the keel bolt with a large hammer and a cold chisel.
A technique that has been suggested to me is to attatch a winch to the yard cradle, at the back of the boat, and then put tension on a line taken to the rear of the keel blade, then carefully tap the blade at the rear and through the pivot bolt hole. I’ll let you know how I go on.
Cheers, Austin Holden.
Member
posted
19 May 2002 10:26 PM
Some weeks ago my swing keel fell off. The forst sign that something was wrong was when we tried to winch it up…It was very heavy..then suddenly all weight was gone. I asumed that the shackle on the end of the uplift rope had parted and the swingkeel would still be there. When we took the boat out of the water however Swingtime was sitting neatly on her stub with no sign of a lifting keel what so ever. A quick check of the nylon pin showed it to be intact so the dissapearing swing keel is a complete mystery.
I have just received my new swingkeel and new pin from Hunter Boats (I anticipated that the old pin might get a bit chewed up getting it out) I have tried to slide the new swingkeel in from the back of the stub but it gets stock about one third of the way in…..I assume you have sorted your problem by now and wonder if you have any thoughts that might help me get the new lump of cast iron in !!
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