keel lock pin/bolt

[oro]

I have a 1977 Venture 25. I anticipate sailing in stiff winds and understand that there is a keel pin/lock that can be in installed thru the keel trunk to lock the keel down so that it does NOT retract up into the keel trunk if the boat is knocked over. I have searched my keel trunk including looking thru the storage hatches on the seats and see no additional hole thru which to insert a pin. In fact, when I raise the keel, I don't see it inside the trunk at all. Does anyone have an idea about where this pin goes thru the keel trunk and what type of pin to get. I don't want to put a stand bolt with threaded nut in there in case you have to remove it quickly to retract the keel in shallow water.

 

[Dan McGuire]

Don't Know about 25, but

I have owned both a MAC 21 and a 23. They were both threaded bolts. It should be above and forward of the pivot bolt (about 6"??(. It is probably already installed and keeps the keel from going pivoting all of the way vertical. On both the 21 and 23 the keel will sweep back about 30 degrees. It will sweep back slightly less than 30 degrees, if the bolt is acting as a stop rather than locking it in place. Remove the bolt and allow the keel to lower just a little bit more and reinsert it. I prefer to sail with the keel unlocked so that the keel will ride up over an obstacle. There is a good argument for both locked and unlocked. The arguments for locked is that the keel will not retract, in a knockdown. Also, if the keel swings up and then the obstacle is removed, it can lower and break the penant (cable).

 

[Steve Zweigart]

Holding mine in hand...

I'm holding my keel lock bolt in hand. It is a 3-7/8" long, 3/8" stainless steel bolt. Goes through the trunk approximately 7" above the hinge bolt. Was hard for me to find, too, in my 84 Mac25. Happens that mine was bent at a 35 degree angle from being "beaten" by the falling keel on one or more occasions. Very difficult to remove! Have purchased replacement with rubber washers, etc, and wing nut for placement as needed. I will not likely leave mine locked due to the unusually high number of submerged trees in Cave Run Lake. If coastal sailing, however, I would certainly lock the keel to enable righting and prevent splitting the hull in the event of a roll.

 

[docamick]

Instruction manual

Try this link:http://www.macgregor-boats.com/macman/21_22_25/manual.html#raising_and_lowering_the_keel