Dropping the keel?

[saltypickleNJ]

I recently purchased a 1974 Mariner (swing keel) and have a question about dropping the keel.

While I started to scrape the bottom of the boat, I noticed that the keel isn't in the best of shape. For starters, there is zero paint on it, and the metal seems to just break off in large chunks when you touch it.

I would ideally like to raise the boat up off the trailer. Then drop the keel and fix or replace it. While it is up, paint the entire underside (where it rests on the trailer, hasn't been painted in years).

Did anyone make a homemade hoist, or something of the sorts? How can I raise it up?

Thank you in advance,
John -- The Salty Pickle

 

[Joe11688]

I recently purchased a 1974 Mariner (swing keel) and have a question about dropping the keel.

While I started to scrape the bottom of the boat, I noticed that the keel isn't in the best of shape. For starters, there is zero paint on it, and the metal seems to just break off in large chunks when you touch it.

I would ideally like to raise the boat up off the trailer. Then drop the keel and fix or replace it. While it is up, paint the entire underside (where it rests on the trailer, hasn't been painted in years).

Did anyone make a homemade hoist, or something of the sorts? How can I raise it up?

Thank you in advance,
John -- The Salty Pickle

John,
I would take it off the trailer. I do it all the time with my O'Day 222. Of course, it's a lot easier if you have boat stands, but if you have a hydraulic jack and some wood blocks to set it up on, it can be done without a hoist. Do you have a roller trailer for this boat? If so, you could tie off the stern to something solid, and use the towing vehicle to get the trailer out from under the boat. The boat needs to be shored up on each side to prevent it from tipping over. You could even slide it off the trailer and onto some old tires on the ground. Later on, you might be able to tip it on it's side with the help of a few friends and be able to get at the centerboard. There's a Mariner site on the web with some useful info on how to work on the board. You may want to check it out too if you haven't already done that. Here's some pics of my boat being taken off the trailer. A picture is worth a 1000 words, or so they say.
Joe

 

[Sunbird22358]

John, first congradulations on the MARINER! A great boat!
Second, the Mariner is a CENTERBOARD boat....not a retractable keel, minor point...but I wouldn't worry too much about removing a 165# Mariner CB...but would not want to remove a typical retractable keel (360-500#)!
Still, I would rather remove the CB (about 25#) from my DS II than from a Mariner!
Anyway, first, getting boat off trailer. Joe has some great tips and he has done it with his 222, so that is one option. I have a DS II and regularly take her halfway off the trailer each spring to paint the bottom. I use a technique that I read about from a Rhodes 19 owner (same hull as your Mariner). I've posted that article from SMALL BOAT JOURNAL (a long gone, but super magazine!).
I've also added a few pictures that I found of a CB from a 1978 Mariner

 

[Joe11688]

I agree with you about "Small Boat Journal." I still have all my SBJ Magazines. "Small Craft Advisor" is a close second to SBJ and they're using some of the same writers of SBJ.
There are a lot of ways to get a boat off a trailer and getting half the boat off is just as effective as any other method. As long as he can get at the centerboard, that's the important thing. The drums can take the weight of that boat with no problem. Some guys use cement blocks but I'm not keen on doing that. I prefer to use blocked up 4X4s, 6X6s, or power company cross arms. In the past, I've gotten away with doing this task without boat stands, but now that I have the boat stands, the job goes a little faster and easier. The important thing to remember regardless of what method is used, is safety. If he takes his time and plans it out carefully, it can be done. A nice flat level working area is required. The bow portion of the boat can be jacked up from the trailer either over the axle or forward of the axle. The bow can finally be set on wood blocks on the trailer over the axle. The more solid support for the boat, the better. The key is always safety.

 

[Sunbird22358]

I did find a couple of pictures of my boat taken while painting the bottom, somewhere I've got a better view of the sawhorses and beam that I use to support the stern, but at least these give some idea of how I get the boat off the trailer (part way off). I support the stern with a 2x4 across 2 sawhorses (that should be increased to a 4x4?) and then support the bow on a stack of blocks. Move the trailer, lower bow onto trailer, move blocks, relift bow, move trailer, lower bow onto trailer, move blocks, etc until boat is as shown. Putting boat back on trailer is reverse of above but now I move trailer by using the winch to pull the trailer back under the boat. Then lower the tongue of trailer to lift stern off of the sawhorses, remove sawhorses and jack trailer tongue back to level.