Swing keel Mac 25
- Thread starter vliposky
- Start date
It is not far from the pivot bolt. Should be above/slightly fwd of the pivot point about 8-10 inches?
If you are missing this hole, it is likely that the PO glassed over it to prevent water from spurting into the cabin during a sail.
A good practice is to use a nylon toilet bowl bolt. The bolt is strong enough to keep the keel down during a knock down but will sheer if you strike the bottom -- preventing a hard strike from damaging your keel trunk.
The #15 lock bolt can also be inserted before you lower the keel. That provides a partial-keel support if you know you are sailing in shallow water.
Chip V.
s/v Sand Dollar
Chip V.
s/v Sand Dollar
Was just inspecting my keel pivot bolt (push keel to one side of the well and use an inspection mirror while on the trailer) and noticed that the lock bolt that I inserted before lowering the keel to seal the hole is a little bent. rgranger - I like your idea of using a nylon bolt but am really wondering if it would hold up. I guess there would be no banging against it. I have a hard time getting the holes to line up especially if I am single handing the boat. I guess I could put a mark on the winch assuming the cable wrapped around the drum the same each time?
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Did you hit something? I guess you really would prefer the bolt to fail than the keel trunk. So something soft for the lockdown. I only ever locked down if there was a chance of snotty weather. If you bust your keel trunk you have real problems
No, the lock bolt was put in when the keel was up. It bent from the keel hitting the bolt when going down probably over multiple sails. Recently I have been letting the cable go slack so that I don't have the "speedometer" drone. I don't remember running aground anytime. Seneca lake is deep. There doesn't seem to be any damage to the trunk.