Keel lock wont move?

danooxnard · Apr 28, 2026

It is lefty loosey. Try PB Blaster and let it soak. Hopefully the stainless threads did not gall. Be gentle and work it back and forth after soaking. There are a lot of opinions on the interwebs about not using the keel lock, so it may not be big worry. that said I do use mine. Dano

LakeShark · Apr 28, 2026

@Carl Wonderful im in the camp of just leave it or remove it. Ben sailing and racing these boats for a few years now and the keel lock is not trustworthy to hold the weight of the keel anyway. Generally all it does is grove the keel when you have a grounding. Having seen boats in a full knockdown and experiencing one myself I have never seen the keel fall back into the boat and there is not a single national racer I know of using one. I would go the PB Blaster route if you want it to move but otherwise put the cushion back and forget its even there unless it starts leaking.

Gene Neill · May 1, 2026

First, is it stuck screwed in, or screwed out? If screwed out, you have the option to just forget it exists.

If screwed in, yes, soak it loose. Be patient, it may take many days.

On that note. Believe it or not, automatic transmission fluid mixed 50/50 with acetone will outperform any commercial penetrating lubricant. Check me.

...3TacksontheWater · May 2, 2026

Carl:

Catalina recommended that the keel bolt be snugged. I trailered or, dry stored with the mast up my first C-22 for probably the first seven years that I had her. Half the time I either forgot to tighten the bolt, the other half the time, I started cranking the winch up realizing I had tightened the bolt and had to stop winching to loosen it. While at anchor for overnight stays, if the water was choppy or it was windy, you could sure hear the keel knocking about. Under sail, it did not seem to make a difference. There are enough folks on the forum that swear by leaving the bolt loose. No one to my knowledge has reported a disaster because of doing so. If you have the time to free the bolt, by all means have at. But, don't miss out on sailing your boat if the bolt needs to wait until a later day to fuss with it.

George

morbidfollower · May 11, 2026

Gene Neill said:
On that note. Believe it or not, automatic transmission fluid mixed 50/50 with acetone will outperform any commercial penetrating lubricant. Check me.

now that is interesting. Unfortunately we only drive stick around here

shemandr · May 11, 2026

I had a tree guy who told me he recycles ATF as chain oil for his chainsaws. I don't recall if he mixes it with anything. I always assumed it is flammable.

morbidfollower · May 11, 2026

Carl Wonderful said:
Its stuck open because when I had the keel completely off.. I did not see any of the bolt penetrating though the keel trunk area.

So what are the benefits of locking the keel...

- Less keel side to side movement?
- Peace of mind that if you are knocked down the keel will stay open?
- Any other reason you guys know of?

As long as its not leaking I'll probably just forget its there as many have suggested....But I always like to understand as much as I can about anything I own.

Hi Carl, I'm actually from your neck of the woods originally and have sailed Lake Arthur quite a bit. I wouldn't even think about that keel lock on that body of water as it's a non issue. Now going up to Lake Erie is a different story. Not to side track the thread but where are you at exactly? I went to high school in Franklin, PA. I still have a house there and sail a little jester 12 on lake Arthur every time im home that I keep in the garage. I'll probably be home over the 4th of July.