Centerboard winch

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Oct 20, 2007
3
- - Dividing Creek, MD
I just brought a 1976 Catalina 22' and don't know how to lower the keel useing the winch. I can raise the keel, but when I try to back off ,the winch handle comes off. Is there a special way to lower the keel useing the winch?
 
G

GParish

Winch handle

My 78 C22 will do the same thing (no nut). Seems like the weight of the keel dropping keeps the spool spinning as it is lowered preventing handle from coming off. (seems vague in explanation, i know.) Remove board in so you can see the whole assembly. Be sure all is lubricated and cable is not binding on reel. And that cable is wound correct direction. Post back. I can go out to boat and clarify cable/ winding direction, etc. Also a good time to check the cable, turning ball, and hose integrity.
 
M

Mke

Winch problem

Is it the original style factory winch? There are two different thread sizes on the axle of the spool. The handle has very coarse threads, and the spool has finer threads. As the handle is turned counter clockwise, it starts to come off of the spindle. The weight of the keel will pull the cable down, causing the spool of cable to spin, which allows it to catch up to the handle and retighten the spool against the handle. This locks the spool in position. Two things you should look at are... 1. Is the cable tangled, kinked, caught against some piece of hardware, etc? 2. Is the boat off of the trailer?
 

Bilbo

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Aug 29, 2005
1,265
Catalina 22 Ohio
hmmm

The handle shouldn't be threaded. and the shaft that it attaches to shouldn't have much of a problem turning. Is the lockdown bolt released? This is located under the forward port table seat area above the keel hinge pin. If the boat is on the trailer or the lockdown bolt is tight, the winch may only loosen the cable since the keel can't go down (although the lockdown bolt won't actually lock the keel from comming down). There also should be a nut over the top of the winch handle and the handle should have a slot rather than a round hole where it attaches to the winch. The handle shouldn't be threaded and it shouldn't come loose if the fastening nut is tight.
 
B

Bob B.

Yes to threads in the winch handle.

I no longer have a boat but the winch handle and advice from Mike and G Parish would be correct for "my" boat. Although I don't remember the course/fine threads as posted by Mike. Seems to me there is only one thread type or size.
 

Bilbo

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Aug 29, 2005
1,265
Catalina 22 Ohio
Ahhh

The winch handle and spindle got changed on newer winches. On my years, they have a slot in the winch handle and a not to tighten the handle on the spindle. So, the handle isn't threaded.
 
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