Help! My 1994 has a fixed keel???

[tampastockman]

Help! My 1994 H19 has a fixed keel???

I went to pick up the H19 today. I couldnt find any up haul lines. I found out why... this girl has a fixed keel. What the heck?? None of my research has ever shown a 1994 with a fixed keel. Long story short, she wouldnt fit on my current trailer. I think I found a Hunter trailer. It has 10 inches clearance to boards and a 45" outside to outside board width. I couldnt measure the keel because the boat is in the water. is the narrow width of the boards enough to give me clearance of keel? It appears that the keel is maybe 24" max below hull. Help please, I am desperate!! Thanks I have enclose pics of trailer. I hope to get it in the morning and head back to the boat on the west coast of Fl.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

It would appear that your trialer is one designed for either a 240 or 260. The hulls of the 19, 23.5.240 and 26/260 are different. The trailers for these boats were designed specifically for the particular boat as it is critical due to wieght carrying of the boat on the bunk boards. Otherwise, you could conceivably damage the hull/water tank ballast lid for a 19 on that trailer. I would tell you do not do it.

As for your desciption of the 1994 Hunter 19, it was only offered in a water ballast with the swing centerboard was not totally encapsulated into the hull when fully pulled up. I hope you listen to this advice.

crazy dave condon

 

[tampastockman]

Thanks Dave, I do not have any other alternative at this point. The boat has to come out of the water today. The guy I bought it from needs it gone. It is defineatly a fixed keel though. When I tried to get her on my current trailer it started to roll as we pulled out of the water. I looked underneath e and there is a cast iron keel running from about the mast area to the center of the cock pit. It appears to be about 2 feet tall by maybe 6 feet long. I will try to find some specs some where and modify this trailer pictured above for the 100 mile journey. I have attached a pic of a simular keel. Not my boat but very similar keel shape and size.

 

[Clark]

Have you verified model/year with the HIN # ? That picture looks nothing like an early 90's 19.

 

[Benny17441]

Did you inspect that keel? Is there the possibility that a center board encrusted with marine growth may be stuck in place causing the boat to roll on the trailer? Check and see if the boat has centerboard lifting mechanism. If not and it is a real ballasted keel then I would check the HIN number on the hull to ascertain the model and consistency with the title document.

 

[jcrumpley]

I thought this might be helpful to you. Lots of photos of hunter 19's on trailors.

http://www.sailingtexas.com/cboats99hunter19.html

 

[Clark]

OK, I'm confused. I looked up your earlier thread and it shows a different boat from what is on your picture in this thread . . . wth?

 

[tampastockman]

OK, I'm confused. I looked up your earlier thread and it shows a different boat from what is on your picture in this thread . . . wth?

The pic showing keel was just an example of what keel looks like. The h19 in the earlier post is my boat. Sorry for confusion. My boat is a custom built on a 19 hull. See my eRlier post called custom H 19. Thanks

 

[DeniseO30]

"Buyer beware" Sorry your in trouble, either the owner lied or you didn't ask the right questions. I'd suggest you find a local welder unless you took tools and drills and what not with you. Get some lumber bolt or welld on a guide for the keel with a board under it. extend the braces that hold the runners . http://www.trailnsail.com/Galvanized Sail.htm has some examples and a how to measure section.
Basically your balancing an upside down rounded triangle. Hope you get it worked out!

 

[drumbeater]

Custom is another way of saying pain in the ass.

 

[Merlin Clark]

I went to pick up the H19 today. I couldnt find any up haul lines. I found out why... this girl has a fixed keel. What the heck?? None of my research has ever shown a 1994 with a fixed keel. Long story short, she wouldnt fit on my current trailer. I think I found a Hunter trailer. It has 10 inches clearance to boards and a 45" outside to outside board width. I couldnt measure the keel because the boat is in the water. is the narrow width of the boards enough to give me clearance of keel? It appears that the keel is maybe 24" max below hull. Help please, I am desperate!! Thanks I have enclose pics of trailer. I hope to get it in the morning and head back to the boat on the west coast of Fl.

I would take the trailer to a trailer shop (today before they close) and buy new, longer bunk supports (the vertical section in galvanized) and whatever mounting hardware you need. Also, a plank like Denise mentioned to take the weight of the keel and fasteners for that. You don't want the boat resting on a swing keel and you also don't want the boat supporting the weight of the keel going down the road. If it really is a fixed keel, the keel should take most of the weight.
Ask the trailer guys how to set it up for the first loading- when I did this, they told me to extend the supports on the ends of the bunks to full height and leave the center ones loose (u bolts on trailer frame); load the boat and pull it out of the water then tighten those u bolts. I did this and it worked fine.
You might have to do some adjusting to the end (most fore and aft) supports to lower the hull. Safest way would be to relaunch, reset the supports and reload the boat.
Good luck, hope it goes well,

 

[tampastockman]

Thank you all for the great advice. I got the old girl loaded and home. I had to build up the bunks to 24". I will get some pics of the boat and keel up later today hopefully.

 

[Merlin Clark]

Good to hear! Going to sail her over here?

 

[tampastockman]

Good to hear! Going to sail her over here?

If I can find an easy way to rig this boat and take it down she will be a trailer sailer. But, if there isnt an easier way than I last night, she will be in a slip in lake Toho in Kissimmee. That being said, I hope to sail her all over the state in different waters!!

 

[Merlin Clark]

There is lots of great info here on the forums about tabernacles and gin pole mast raising rigs.
The world, er, Florida is your oyster! Enjoy!

 

[tampastockman]

There is lots of great info here on the forums about tabernacles and gin pole mast raising rigs.
The world, er, Florida is your oyster! Enjoy!

If I can figure out a mast hinge system, life will be good. High on my priority list. I think Dwyer Aluminum might have what I need. fingers are crossed....

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

FYI as I posted this in another email.

Based on information received from Hunter, there was a prototype hull that was sold without a hull number as is with no warranty. From there, Hunter has no knowledge of what happenned to that hull. The keel and what appears to be a longer mast and other things were added on by whoever purchased the hull. I thought the keel was a little funny looking. Anyway, any trailer will have to be designed to fit the boat as the standard 19 trailer will not. Any hauling with the blocks of wood on top of bunk boards particuarly with any keel hanging is not good at all. I err toward safety when it comes to boats and trailers.

As for the mast, it could be anything but places to look are US spars, Charleston spar, or Dwyer mast as those are the only possible choices.

Crazy Dave Condon