I've just purchased a 92' Hunter 23.5. When I launched the boat for the first time, the keel did not come down. The rope was loose. Is there a pin or something that holds the keel in the raised position, or is it just stuck?
Hunter 23.5 Swing Keel
- Thread starter grcccw55
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There's no pin, it just pivots into a pocket that isn't even really tight. When it is all the way down, the line is very slack, but if it is the same as it was before you launched, it might be stuck. Have you checked the line in the cabin? It runs inside a white corrugated plastic hose in front of the compression post on mine. You could loosen the attachment on either end, or, if it's like mine, the hose has shrunk to where the line is visible at the top. If the line is taught inside the cabin, it could be binding where it passes through the deck. The board is pretty heavy and should easily come down normally. I would think if it's stuck, it wouldn't take much to free it. Just curious, have you tried to raise it? It's pretty heavy at first and may not feel like it's going to come up, but once you get it started, it moves easier. One other thing just came to mind, occasionally, when lowering the rudder, the line used to raise/lower it gets jammed between the rudder and the mount and the weight of the rudder really binds it up. I have never taken my centerboard out and am not sure if it could happen there, but it seems like a similar system. Maybe some others could verify.
Assuming the boat is in the water, you may wish to go for swim and see if if you can free the board by pushing on the board's side or giving it a little tug. You'll see that even in the raised position, several inches of the board projects from the bottom of the centerboard trunk. If a barnacle or some other growth inside the trunk is preventing the board from lowering, your in water effort just might free it up.
Alternatively, if you have the boat hauled at a boat yard, it can be lifted high enough so that the entire board and the centerboard's stainless steel bracket inside the trunk can be removed and serviced. On a 20 year old boat, dropping out the centerboard assembly, if only to replace the control line, seems warranted. The job is easy and if you search this site you'll find detailed instructions with photos on just how to do it.
Kind regards
Hugh Straub
Alternatively, if you have the boat hauled at a boat yard, it can be lifted high enough so that the entire board and the centerboard's stainless steel bracket inside the trunk can be removed and serviced. On a 20 year old boat, dropping out the centerboard assembly, if only to replace the control line, seems warranted. The job is easy and if you search this site you'll find detailed instructions with photos on just how to do it.
Kind regards
Hugh Straub
My H26's centerboard actually does pivot on a pin through the centerboard bracket, but it shouldn't hold the centerboard up or down if everything is OK with it. Hugh probably nailed it with marine growth jamming it. Grcccw55, I'm just across the Lillian Bridge from you! Let me know if you need any help. BrianW
Thanks for the advice guys. I'm a beginner and have many questions, so I'll be back! Hey BrianW, do you know of a good public launch close to the Lillian bridge? Wolf Bay is getting awefully small. I bought this boat in Milton and the keel was the worst looking piece of the boatl Barnacles are probably my problem. I'm still not sure how to get the boat high enough out of the water to try to free it.
The best advice given for the 23.5 is marine growth and you hit it on the nailhead. Barnacles. You will probably need to take the boat to a yard and haul it as I suspect that is the problem. YOu may need to apply anit fouling paint to keep that from happenning again.
crazy dave
crazy dave
Hey Grcccw55, my H26 is the big sister of your H23.5. They are very similarily built. The new ramp near the Lillian Bridge (Alabama side) is too shallow to launch my H26. In my opinion, the best launching ramp is at Big Lagoon State Park. Go across the Lillian Bridge on Hwy 98, go about 2 miles, turn right on Bauer Rd (1st red light), go about 3 miles... Bauer Rd. dead ends at Big Lagoon State Park entrance. BrianW
Grcccw55, with your boat on the trailer, you should be able to see if you have growth of barnacles on your centerboard and centerboard trunk, however, some growth may been hidden from view. If you see any, you may be able to chip away with a paint scraper (don't gouge your gelcoat). Then, if you launch the boat, with the boat in shallow water, release the centerboard downhaul line. First try to tug it up several times. If you have even a small anount of slack, it may move the centerboard just enough to unjam it. If it still doesn't move, get yourself ready to jump in the water and look underneath, using a snorkle and mask. It's a lot easier if you are in water about waist deep. Then, stick your head under water and manually try to jiggle and gently pry the centerboard down. Sometimes, even a light growth of barnacles at the wrong place can jam your centerboard. If you have a visibly heavy barnacle growth, you have a bottom job in your near future, even if you manage to cajole the centerboard down.... and definitely if you have barnacles on your hull's bottom. I sent you a private message through this forum with my telephone number if you would like to chat. BrianW
Thanks guys. I've already learned about boat ramps. These sailboat trailers ride very low, and the first time I tried to launch, the ramp dropped off too fast and my trailer got hung up on one of the cross pieces. Made for a terrible afternoon. I will check the one out in Lillian before I pull my boat there.
Grcccw55, in case you don't have an owner's manual for your H-23.5, there's one on this site. The link is below. BrianW
http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=88
http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=88
I had to replace my center board on my 23.5. The hardest part is figuring out how to raise the boat.... my answer was a local machine shop who had a a fork lift and a hoist. We used the fork lift on the front of the boat and used the hoist in the aft. Picked up the boat about 3 feet, removed the center board mount (which screws in from inside the cabin), placed mount on new centerboard, connect pull line, insert board and mount into proper location, connect holding bolt, have a beer.
Easy enough....
I do recommend you change the pull line while you are doing this.
Easy enough....
I do recommend you change the pull line while you are doing this.
Thanks Scubajeep. I do have a tractor with a front-end loader that I could pick it up with. I just need to be able to support it safely enough to get under it. How much did the new centerboard cost, and where did you buy it?
I think I paid $400? But I would need to look up the cost.grcccw55 said:
For lifting the boat, try picking up the stern with you tractor while leaving the bow attached to the trailer. Might work????? You could use some 4x4s stacked on the trailer to help stabilize the boat once it's high enough.
A front end loader isn't the best thing to use.. most are not rated for that much weight, it doesn't lift straight up and there isn't really any good way to secure it so it doesn't slip. Fortunately, it's pretty easy to get them up in the air using just some supports and a jack. A quick google search will show you lots of ways to do it pretty easily and without the use of heavy equipment 
Cheers,
Brad
Cheers,
Brad
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