I just bought a '79 Macgregor Venture 25 with a retractable keel. I can't figure out how to release the winch to lower the keel, any suggestions? thank you.
How do I lower the keel?
- Thread starter spikesc
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I have an 80 MAC 25 ...
Which cannot be that much different. Mine has a braking winch. It automatically reverses for the direction the winch handle is turned. Yours should be the same way. Grab the handle and crank it counter clockwise. It should allow the winch to unspool cable and drop the keel accordingly. Tom
Which cannot be that much different. Mine has a braking winch. It automatically reverses for the direction the winch handle is turned. Yours should be the same way. Grab the handle and crank it counter clockwise. It should allow the winch to unspool cable and drop the keel accordingly. Tom
I have a 74 MAC 25
and the picture looks just like my keel winch. I should reverse direction and lower the keel but if it was in the same condition that mine was the rubber gaskets that allow that to happen are shot and the only thing that will happen is that the winch handle will screw off. You will have to dismantle it and try restore it or get a new one. I just put a pin through the wratchet and lower it with a chain that is attached in the winch compartment each time. Good luck.....another Tom
and the picture looks just like my keel winch. I should reverse direction and lower the keel but if it was in the same condition that mine was the rubber gaskets that allow that to happen are shot and the only thing that will happen is that the winch handle will screw off. You will have to dismantle it and try restore it or get a new one. I just put a pin through the wratchet and lower it with a chain that is attached in the winch compartment each time. Good luck.....another Tom
handle screwed off
OK. I did what you guys told me to do and all that happened was that my winch handle screwed off. Do I need to pull the boat out of the water to replace/repair the winch? Where can I buy a new one?
OK. I did what you guys told me to do and all that happened was that my winch handle screwed off. Do I need to pull the boat out of the water to replace/repair the winch? Where can I buy a new one?
Northern Tool
Those old winches are notorious for failing and locking up. You'll have to pull the boat or otherwise secure the keel in an up position and remove the old winch. This link is one of two choices that Northern Tool offers for a replacement.
Those old winches are notorious for failing and locking up. You'll have to pull the boat or otherwise secure the keel in an up position and remove the old winch. This link is one of two choices that Northern Tool offers for a replacement.
Winch Problems
I have had several times when the keel winch was jammed and I couldn't move it up or down. I thought that the cable was jammed but I found out that by placing a bit of oil around the area where the winch handle shaft enters the winch body I could free it up and it would work fine for quite a while. You probably have to be careful that you don't over oil the brake mechanism and prevent it from doing its job. It is also possible that the cable got looped over the winch drum and got jammed between the drum and body or got caught in the gear. good luck
I have had several times when the keel winch was jammed and I couldn't move it up or down. I thought that the cable was jammed but I found out that by placing a bit of oil around the area where the winch handle shaft enters the winch body I could free it up and it would work fine for quite a while. You probably have to be careful that you don't over oil the brake mechanism and prevent it from doing its job. It is also possible that the cable got looped over the winch drum and got jammed between the drum and body or got caught in the gear. good luck
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