1973 Venture 22 swing keel overhaul/repair

[EnginesForward]

I am in the process of refurbishing the keel. So far I have the boat off the trailer, built a dolly for the keel, released the thimble and bolt from the bottom of the keel. I noticed that the bolt that is located at the top of the trunk appears to have a piece ot tubing that is free to roll I assume to keep the cable in line with the winch. Is this the correct part or should it be a "V" type roller? I noticed that the fiberglas is cracked and pulling away from the cast iron. I plan to remove th old fiberglas and redo it with Epoxy resin and F/G Cloth after I grind,sand and sandblast the cast iron.
At the pivot bolt there are washers and bolts and what looks like silicon cauk.
What is the proper se3alant to use. Is there a rubber bumper with a thru-bolt.
Where can I find the repacement parts? I have found a cable company that will make up the 1/4 "- 7-19 Stainless cable, thimble and silver the end that will be attached to the winch . The company specializes in wire-rope cables for industrial cranes and construction equipment.

I want to fix it right and plan to have the boat on a trailer and sail in salt water. I live in Las Vegas but Lake Mead is too dangerous for sailing. My plan is to launch and spend 3-8 days on the boat at various marineas on the West Coast.

 

[Diver960]

Morning, Engines! We just returned from sailing on San Diego bay and into the Pacific around Point Loma. Excellent sailing!
I applaud what you're doing with your keel. Have you tried to locate an owners manual for that model? Though I don't know for certain how to answer your questions, there are some really great people on this forum that will be able to help you greatly. What I've learned since purchasing our Venture 2-24 is that modifications are interesting in that we can learn what works on a different vessel or for our particular situation and by being creative, we can find solutions that work really well, even if they weren't part of the original design. Best of luck and I look forward to following your mod!
Diver

 

[Jack Bernard]

Bluewater Yachts, http://bwyachts.com/BWYParts/info.htm, has parts for the MacGregor boats. If you don't see what you are looking for ask and they might have it. Parts were often interchangeable between different models. As I gather they deal exclusively with MacGregor's, thus most of their people are likely know all about your boat.

 

[EnginesForward]

Thanks for the help I will give them a call

 

[topcat0399]

I am in the process of refurbishing the keel. So far I have the boat off the trailer, built a dolly for the keel, released the thimble and bolt from the bottom of the keel. I noticed that the bolt that is located at the top of the trunk appears to have a piece ot tubing that is free to roll I assume to keep the cable in line with the winch. Is this the correct part or should it be a "V" type roller? I noticed that the fiberglas is cracked and pulling away from the cast iron. I plan to remove th old fiberglas and redo it with Epoxy resin and F/G Cloth after I grind,sand and sandblast the cast iron.
At the pivot bolt there are washers and bolts and what looks like silicon cauk.
What is the proper se3alant to use. Is there a rubber bumper with a thru-bolt.
Where can I find the repacement parts? I have found a cable company that will make up the 1/4 "- 7-19 Stainless cable, thimble and silver the end that will be attached to the winch . The company specializes in wire-rope cables for industrial cranes and construction equipment.

I want to fix it right and plan to have the boat on a trailer and sail in salt water. I live in Las Vegas but Lake Mead is too dangerous for sailing. My plan is to launch and spend 3-8 days on the boat at various marineas on the West Coast.

For the items you describe I would be be going to a place such as fastenal for the bolt hardware. Rubber washers I can cut myself. As far as sealant - usually keel trunk bolts didn't have any sealant - pressure on the rubber washers does the trick. Otherwise you can use any sealant such as butyl tape or silicon - leaks in these spots are nuisance only and don't require something like 3m 4200. Resealing future leaks in the future are easily done.

Stories like yours make me so glad we have the all iron keel.

 

[EnginesForward]

Thank you for your reply and help. In addition I plan to fabricate a stainless plate that will attach to the lower part of the Keel at is exposed to abraision and trailer transport. I have an extensive workshop nad also plan to replace all hardware backing plates with stainless as well the plates will de drilled and tapped so all the deck hardware can be tightened from above the deck with an allen wrench.

 

[justsomeguy]

Thank you for your reply and help. In addition I plan to fabricate a stainless plate that will attach to the lower part of the Keel at is exposed to abraision and trailer transport. I have an extensive workshop nad also plan to replace all hardware backing plates with stainless as well the plates will de drilled and tapped so all the deck hardware can be tightened from above the deck with an allen wrench.

"Tightening from above" can mess with your sealant job.

 

[woodzy]

I am in the process of refurbishing the keel. So far I have the boat off the trailer, built a dolly for the keel, released the thimble and bolt from the bottom of the keel. I noticed that the bolt that is located at the top of the trunk appears to have a piece ot tubing that is free to roll I assume to keep the cable in line with the winch. Is this the correct part or should it be a "V" type roller? I noticed that the fiberglas is cracked and pulling away from the cast iron. I plan to remove th old fiberglas and redo it with Epoxy resin and F/G Cloth after I grind,sand and sandblast the cast iron.
At the pivot bolt there are washers and bolts and what looks like silicon cauk.
What is the proper se3alant to use. Is there a rubber bumper with a thru-bolt.
Where can I find the repacement parts? I have found a cable company that will make up the 1/4 "- 7-19 Stainless cable, thimble and silver the end that will be attached to the winch . The company specializes in wire-rope cables for industrial cranes and construction equipment.

I want to fix it right and plan to have the boat on a trailer and sail in salt water. I live in Las Vegas but Lake Mead is too dangerous for sailing. My plan is to launch and spend 3-8 days on the boat at various marineas on the West Coast.

I just did keel pivot bolt, rubber was leaking blue water yachts had a kit for my mac 25 bolt rubbers nut and washers by the time they shipped it was $36. worked great

 

[EnginesForward]

Keel Overhaul

Thank you for the info just received an E-mail from BWM with Drawings
My keel is a Mess looks like mI will have to make a fiberglass mold and cast new shell to encase the steel keel.

I just did keel pivot bolt, rubber was leaking blue water yachts had a kit for my mac 25 bolt rubbers nut and washers by the time they shipped it was $36. worked great

 

[EnginesForward]

Repair and overhaul of v22 steel plate swing keel

I am in the process of refurbishing the keel.
I found the fiberglas covering to be a mess and missing in many places. I would like to know if any other V22 owners have encountered the same problem and how the fixed it? I plan to do the following and I will take photos of my mods:

1. Sand blast the keel
2. Weld 3"x 3/16 steel from the outer edge of the top of the outer port and
starboard plates to the outer edge of the center plate. I will also use the
same steel to fair in the angle edges of the outer plate to the center plate.
3. weld 2"x 3/16 steel from the outer edges of the center plate and weld them
together to form a sharp trailing edge.
4. Weld 2" OD. pipe cut in half to the leading edge and lower edge.
5. Fabricate correct profile along the trailing edge paying close attention to
copy the same contour around the cable attachment hole.
6. Fiberglas the whole rudder with Epoxy resin and cloth.
7. Form a stainless skid plate to fit the contour of the leading and lower edge.
While I realize that this is a lot of work I am redoing the the boat inside and out. I am retired and a metal fabricator/weldor and journeyman finish carpenter with a 1800 sq foot workshop. Judgeing from the amount of rust that cam off of the plates my added steel should not add too much weight.

 

[Ranger_12]

I have refurbished 2 Macgregor swings keels this year, but being short of spare time or just lazy I just cleaned them to bare metal and covered them with 2 coats of NAPA fiberglass resin jelly part # BK 765-1241 and then painted them with VanSickle Enamel with epoxy hardener. The first boat was in the water at the marina all season and worked out great. The second one was just put in the water 2 weeks ago. I did a Venture 21 7 years ago and always trailer sailed with it and its still in good shape. Be sure not to get the keel to wide or it wont retract into the hull. I use 5/8" brass starter bushings to repair the pivot hole if needed. Good luck

 

[EnginesForward]

THANKS I plan on trailering my boat but sailing it mostly in salt water. I am goin to add zincs to the engine and keel to impead any more rust or corrosion.

 

[Jebjobs]

help find mesurements l

I have refurbished 2 Macgregor swings keels this year, but being short of spare time or just lazy I just cleaned them to bare metal and covered them with 2 coats of NAPA fiberglass resin jelly part # BK 765-1241 and then painted them with VanSickle Enamel with epoxy hardener. The first boat was in the water at the marina all season and worked out great. The second one was just put in the water 2 weeks ago. I did a Venture 21 7 years ago and always trailer sailed with it and its still in good shape. Be sure not to get the keel to wide or it wont retract into the hull. I use 5/8" brass starter bushings to repair the pivot hole if needed. Good luck

looking for center to center measurements on 1978 venture 21 swing keel pivot bolt hole to lock bolt hole as I install bushing thanks help if you can !

 

[JohnCTV21]

10 1/16" on my 1975 all steel keel

 

[Jebjobs]

mine is an all steel keel is yours

 

[JohnCTV21]

10 1/16" on my 1975 ALL STEEL KEEL

ummm

 

[promano68]

I have refurbished 2 Macgregor swings keels this year, but being short of spare time or just lazy I just cleaned them to bare metal and covered them with 2 coats of NAPA fiberglass resin jelly part # BK 765-1241 and then painted them with VanSickle Enamel with epoxy hardener. The first boat was in the water at the marina all season and worked out great. The second one was just put in the water 2 weeks ago. I did a Venture 21 7 years ago and always trailer sailed with it and its still in good shape. Be sure not to get the keel to wide or it wont retract into the hull. I use 5/8" brass starter bushings to repair the pivot hole if needed. Good luck

Ranger, I have a V22 and the keel is a wreck! I don't have time at this point in the season to go through the motions of restoring the keel to its original glory. Are you saying that I could simply take it down to the metal and simply put a couple coats of this resin, paint it and get it back in? What about making up the difference in the width to avoid it moving back and forth and banging sides or wearing the pin? Mine is an '81.

 

[promano68]

I also can't believe I found a thread that isn't 5-10 years old!!!! Nice!

 

[Jebjobs]

Ranger, I have a V22 and the keel is a wreck! I don't have time at this point in the season to go through the motions of restoring the keel to its original glory. Are you saying that I could simply take it down to the metal and simply put a couple coats of this resin, paint it and get it back in? What about making up the difference in the width to avoid it moving back and forth and banging sides or wearing the pin? Mine is an '81.

replace the swing bolt install a brass or bronze bushing in the hole mine is an all steel model I put no rosin on just loads of paint and a stripe I had to put my boat on an a frame and remove the trailer I am in the middle of a mini restoration

 

[solodare]

ENGINES, please post some pictures of your work! I for one would like to see the process of the keel removal, what the hull looks like with out the keel and such.
I think my keel was just redone before I got it but!!! looking under the boat while its on the trailer all I see is wood grain! looks like epoxy over it but I think I need to have a closer look at what I have and also need to bottom paint. So a removal is in my future. Got any tips so far?