216 keel jack

[yoty2126]

Hi folks, I am in the UK and have a defective keel jack (integral) on my 216. Has anyone changed the jack (integral) for a different system such as a winch? If so do you have details of how you did it.

Thanks

Baz

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

There is a fellow who monitors this site and he would be the best to help you. Chuckwayne, are you there.

First though, go to boat information and pull up the Hunter 216. Under downloads look at the owner manual and other related topics on the keel and that might answer your question sir.

 

[chuckwayne]

Hi Baz,
you didn't say why it's defective or what year 216 you've got - and has there been any maintenance performed on it.
People have talked about winches, block and tackle, etc. but I think your best approach - and safest - would be to try to repair the integral first.
often, the main issue is air or water in the hydraulic fluid or low fluid - the cylinder should be removed and stored vertically if the boat isn't used for long periods - like winter.
look in the archives here under the 216 - I've posted the troubleshooting guide, air purging instructions, and rebuild instructions here.
Step 1, remove the valve needle and look for rust or scoring
step 2, hold upright with the valve open and exercise the shaft up and down several times. then pull the shaft up, shut the valve and try to pump it down - if it improves, repeat. follow the posted instructions.
if those don't work, and/or you don't hear fluid noises when moving the shaft, disconnect one end of the return tube and pump out a little fluid - it should be a light tan color and clear. anything else, follow the directions for fluid flush and replacement.
If that doesn't work, it's rebuild time. You can order the kit, about $300 US, or send it back and have it rebuilt by Sailtec for about $400US. It's somewhat tricky to tear down - they use a blowtorch - it's locked together with Loctite red - so your call
Remember, the keel weighs 500lbs, so jury rigging something exposes you and the boat to possible severe stresses - try to use the designed mechanism.
When I bought my 216, the PO never had done any maintenance - my integral worked much better when I replaced the green goo inside with new fluid!
Also, Sailtec says that integrals in normal use - backstay adjusters - usually get rebuilt every 6 years or so

 

[yoty2126]

Thanks chuckwayne, I've just had the unit serviced over the winter which I now regret as it was working correctly beforehand. (a case for 'if it ain't broke don't fix it')I thought a service would be good for it as it's 10 years old and I have no record of it's history. The service was carried out by Sailtec's agents in Plymouth, England so they should have known what they were doing but it has been back once already to rectify an oil leak from the piston. I'm still in touch with them but not sure of the outcome yet. I have lost confidence in them.

I have carried out the purging instructions several times now and usually it works - for a time. Oddly enough, if I store the unit upright i.e. ram at the top, it won't work the following day, if I lay it flat it does, albeit with a jerky action. I have also bled the system a couple of times. I note your comments about weight e.t.c. but I moor the boat in shallow water so it's imperative that I can lift the keel after a days sailing. At the moment I have no confidence that the unit will perform when needed, that's why I'm looking at more reliable alternatives.

 

[chuckwayne]

I feel your pain.... Sailtec (US) has a good reputation, I would hope you'd get satisfaction from their English agent.
As an alternative, you could consider a small(maybe 1000lb size) trailer winch mounted on a crossmember - something like the track for the optional traveler. That should give you enough mechanical advantage to safely lift the keel.
Since you're only concerned with having the board up at the mooring, another approach that might work is a keel lift - used on small keelboats for trailering. This uses a block and tackle attached to the boom with a strop, and support for the boom with a boom crutch and/or topping lift at the strop to manage boom loads.

 

[yoty2126]

HI, and thanks again. The unit is going back to the agents tomorrow for the third visit and maybe a cure. I emailed the parent company last week but they haven't replied yet. If all else fails my thinking is to replace the jack with a blocked and tackle with about 6-1 purchase and the tail led forward to a winch probably mounted in the cuddy. That way I'll get the mechanical advantage and still retain control over the speed of the drop. The drawback will be the length of the tail. Or I might just go for a SS cable straight to a winch but the winch would need a clutch to control the drop or I'll finish up with a man-sized masticator in the cockpit!

Cheers

Baz

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Placement of a winch in the transom or cockpit attached to the deck is not suggested as you will create a lot of problems.

 

[chuckwayne]

Crazy Dave is right - remember, the 216 is constructed of structural foam sandwiched in a thin plastic skin. The only place I can think of to handle a 500lb load would be across the seats similar to the traveler mounting. With a base to spread the load, I would think the loading on the seats would be comparable to the traveler. The load would also place the vertical surface of the seat in compression, less stress than the traveler in extension.
Your best bet is still to fix the integral

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Chuckwayne;

Even bracing across the cockpit to put a winch on is a no no as it will structurally hurt the deck which you guessed right. He has only the one option. Repair it or replace it.

 

[Dave Groshong]

Contact Kevin at SailTec, there is a fix in some cases:

ksavitt@sailtec.com

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Good advice from Dave Groshong as he is one of the fantastic fellows working at the SBO store Along with that posted in the owners information on the boat under boat information from Chuckwayne. Thank you gentlemen

 

[Ospronah]

Hi Everyone. Very interesting to stumble upon this thread. I had a very similar experience, and had to send my pump to the same 'Kevin Savitt' at Sailtec on two separate occasions. We'll see if this last rebuild actually does the trick!