75 Venture Stuck Keel

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Apr 17, 2006
5
ericson 30 Fort Walton Beach, Fl
I just bought a 75 Venture 25 today. The keel is stuck in the up position. I tried to move the wench handle but it want budge. Any suggestions.
 
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Dan McGuire

Shells & Barnacles

Since you are on the coast, it is most likely barnacles and oysters and other shell fish. I bought my MAC 23 in Panama City. The keel was also stuck in the up position. The boat had been in the water for about ten years with the keel up. When I tried to pull it up on the trailer, I heard this awful crunching noise. I thought I was breaking something. When I finally got it up on the trailer, the bottom was covered with oysters. I got off about ten gallons. When I got I home, I tried to lower the keel. It would not go down. I lifted it off the trailer. It took me three days (24 hours)of hard work to get it down. I had to run a slim piece of metal up the side of the keel and and break it loose. I finally got it to move a few inches. I raised and lowered it and hammeried on it until it finally came down. I probably got over 20 gallons of oysters off the bottom of the boat and in the keel trunk before it is over.
 
Apr 17, 2006
5
ericson 30 Fort Walton Beach, Fl
Easy way

Thanks so much Dan. I'm planning a complete restoration and will try and do as you suggested while on the trailer. Will let you know how I progress. Thanks agin for the reply, Jim Tumlin
 
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tpolo

winch

Jim...I am still restoring my 1974 Mac Venture 25 and had the same problem. Your winch is probably the same. It has a clutch mechanism that is all worn out or corroded with the rubber cushions inside. If it was working properly you should be able to let it down. I took mine out and instead of replacing it I drilled a little hole in the rachet arm, attached a small chain through it. Now to lower the keel I just reach into the compartment, pull on the chain, and let it down. Raising it up is like a regular winch with a rachet mechanism.
 
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