We have a 2007 Beneteau 323. The other day when I was out instead of letting the keel down, counterclockwise turn unscrewed the screw drive -- it comes right up into the cabin. It went up and down fine the previous day in clear water -- I doubt that there is any external material clogging the area. I think what likely happened is that we cranked the centerboard up too hard and it must now somehow be stuck in the up position by friction against the sides. I dove under the boat to verify that the keel IS in fact up. It is. Has anyone else had this problem and found a solution? I am tempted to unscrew the screw so that it is away from the top bearings and then give it gentle wacks with a dead blow mallet to try to free the keel. Advice?
Beneteau lifting keel stuck in up position
- Thread starter JPetersen
- Start date
That would sometimes happen to me after trailering my swing keel boat. A wack on the center board casing with a rubber hammer or something else with a block of wood in between would loosen it. DO NOT SET UP A SITUATION WHERE IT WILL DROP ALL THE WAY DOWN WHEN IT COMES LOOSE. I lost a keel that way.