85 H23 keel stuck down...

[DanFleig]

The keel on my 1985 H23 seems to be stuck down. It's been in the water for a year now, and I've left the board down the whole time because it helps me point better, and I dont really need the shallow water performance of the straight wing keel.

Problem is, I want to pull the boat, and when I pulled on the line today, I couldn't get the keel to retract...so now, do I dive down I it and try to jar it loose, or just winch it onto the trailer slowly trusting the weight of the boat to dislodge all the gunk holding it down??

Thank you

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

If you do not prevail go to a yard and lift it up

 

[DanFleig]

So this morning I ran a line under the boat, tied one end to the port jib sheet cleat, and used the starboard winch to see if I could force it up that way. I'd just was, the ears almost no resistance, and she came right up. I still can't tighten the line tho hold the keel there though. I figure the line must be fouled somewhere.

Since I can't secure it up im going to have a yard pull her tomorrow. If I pull her with the trailer and don't get the boat exactly right there first time, the keel will drop and I'll be stuck. Probably better to leave it to the pros.

Thanks Crazy Dave!

 

[peptobysmol]

So what ended up happening? I haven't been on in awhile. My 1985 swing keel has a line to deploy the keel and one to retract it. It also floats so when I uncleat the line it will float to the neutral "up" position with an audible "thump." When I first got my boat it didn't even have a single pulley. Since then I put a 4:1 purchase on it.

Hope everything went well.