Just purchased a new to me 1999 Hunter 240 and got her in the water. I have a question on the swing keel / centerboard Up-Haul. Of course the keel had been raised on the trailer and the uphaul was wrapped around the winch from being raised by the seller to trailer.
When I put it in the water and tried to push off the trailer I could tell we were "resting" on the keel as the boat was getting hung up on the trailer as I tried to push her off and the uphaul line was loose on the winch, it hadn't been cleated. So I wrapped the winch line tight and raised it up all the way and cleated it off and the boat slid off easy.
My question is when I tried to lower the keel, when I released the uphaul line the line only "traveled" a few inches before becoming slack. Is this appropriate? How far should I expect that line to travel when raising and lowering it.
I just wanted to be sure - I haven't swum under the boat yet to inspect if the keel is truly all the way down, but I guess that would be a relatively easy way to check. Probably should try that in up and down positions just to get more familiar with the boat.
Thoughts?
Also - when "raising the keel" with the winch, it takes a fair amount of force, I can do it with one arm but its tough - is that normal? Should it move more freely? I know the lines on these can need replacing and there can be other issues. Thanks!
When I put it in the water and tried to push off the trailer I could tell we were "resting" on the keel as the boat was getting hung up on the trailer as I tried to push her off and the uphaul line was loose on the winch, it hadn't been cleated. So I wrapped the winch line tight and raised it up all the way and cleated it off and the boat slid off easy.
My question is when I tried to lower the keel, when I released the uphaul line the line only "traveled" a few inches before becoming slack. Is this appropriate? How far should I expect that line to travel when raising and lowering it.
I just wanted to be sure - I haven't swum under the boat yet to inspect if the keel is truly all the way down, but I guess that would be a relatively easy way to check. Probably should try that in up and down positions just to get more familiar with the boat.
Thoughts?
Also - when "raising the keel" with the winch, it takes a fair amount of force, I can do it with one arm but its tough - is that normal? Should it move more freely? I know the lines on these can need replacing and there can be other issues. Thanks!