Keel Stuck in the Down Position

[Dale]

I bought my Mac 25 last Summer and the guy I bought it from showed me where the keel cable had broken and that the keel was always down (not a problem since it sits in a slip in a Marina). Now I am ready to pull it out and move it to a lake closer to home, but 1) I can't get a new cable through the hull to be able to attach to the keel, and 2) the keel appears to be stuck down (I can't locate the pin that is supposed to retain it in the down position...pictures would be helpful!).I was out on the lake on Sunday and went under the boat (scuba...visibility in the lake was about 10 inches!) and there is a lot of growth on the keel. I scraped off what I could, but it looks like I might have to have the boat professionally pulled out of the water.I thought about beaching the boat to see if I could losen the keel, but that sounds like a really bad idea (loss of keel, stuck in the mud, etc....).Any ideas out there?

 

[mrbill]

come along?

from what little I know about a 25, the keel doesnt come all the way up.& I guess you could hurt the boat by forcing it, but..... onec on a trailer you can fix the damage you do putting it on the trl...a come along, under the boat or a trailer strap (see link) could force the keep up.use some blankets for padding to save the fiberglass.... doubt you'll hurt the keel... ps: I think it about 600# http://www.racerwholesale.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=259

 

[Michael Meyer]

how about this idea

There's a picture of the bolt configuration in the MAC25 mannual on this web site--> http://www.macgregor-boats.com/ ...just to make sure you have the right bolt out of the keel. You could also try a power washer to "underwater clean" the area in and around the keel. Then put a new cable on it and try it...just and idea...

 

[Jeffrey Wettig]

Not sure

I have a Mac 25 and just yesterday put it in the water. I have the opposite problem, my winch is screwed and the Keel won't go down.......I think the "Manual" is wholly insufficient for understanding what the heck is going on with the Keel, so if anyone has experience with a Mac 25 and the working of the keel, it would help Dale and I out a bunch.... From what I understand, the Keel can be locked down but not locked up (only held up by the cable and winch assembly....Correct???) Also that the cable should be replaced every other year or so, is there any other "Parts" to the Keel assembly that should be changed out????Anyone out there that can help would be greatly appreciated, as this boat is 32 years old and not too many out there are familiar with it....... get back to me here or at jwettig@yahoo.comPics of boat today at www.spasticnation.comThanks ya'llwetter

 

[Dave M26D]

Dale...

There is a lot of expertise on this forum, but it's not the end-all with respect to Mac info. There are several really good 25 guys on http://www.sailnet.com/, (you have to sign up and you have to suffer a lot of off topic crap, but you take the salt with the sugar) in particular Dick Turney, but there are others too, whom I can't remember right now. They can be a valuable source of good info.The other thing to keep in mind is that all the other heavy swingkeeled versions of the Mac are very similar in-so-far as the keel and the winch are concerned.What you are dealing with is pretty common and there are a lot of folks who can steer you in the right direction.Another useful forum is the Trailer/Sailor forum. I don't know why, but Mac people seem to be extrordinarily forthcoming with help...must be a defensive thing.

 

[vwjon]

keel winch

You can buy a keel winch at northerntool.com1-800-556 7885 part #129681-2504. About 50 bucks with shipping.