Hi friends, A while back, I posted a swing keel deteriorating topic. I appreciate everyone's input. Yesterday I had to pay $260.00 to have a one year old boat put in the Travelift at my marina so that I could repair the damage. The tide was low when it was time to drop the boat in the water, so the lift operator told me to raise the centerboard. Well guess what-it only lifted about 1/2 way and was very-I mean very difficult (I was accounting for lack of bouancy). The board has been very difficult to raise since I took delivery of the boat last year. I just assumed the board was very heavy and ballasted. Now I know why the bottom of the leading edge of he keel had the gel coat worn away. When I thought that the board was all the way up with only 18" draft, I was really drawing about 4 feet of water. Unfortunately, although I now know that I've had this problem since delivery (the cause was hidden while the boat was in the water), my discovery comes after the warranty has expired. The problem with the swing system is somewhere in the line and pulley system that runs under the mast plate and down through the compression post. Does anyone know of a way to service this without me having to pay another $$$ that I don't have so that the boat can be hoisted? The line appears to be binding inside somewhere. I'll contact Hunter and explain-they have very good customer service, but I won't count on anything. I bought a trailerable/launchable boat so that I could avoid some yearly yard costs. I would apprciate any help or advice. Thanks, Greg
Keel Woes Continue
- Thread starter zigracer
- Start date
- Status
How I did it
Greg, I am a very new 260 owner so I may not be your best source of information. I also bring my boat into very shallow water and I keep my boat on a lift. The first time I brought it up the centerboard was not all the way up. I pulled like crazy on the line to raise it but could not get it up. Spoke to my dealer who said to use the winch to winch it up. I winched it up all the way ( it is on a lift so I can see that it it up.) I then put a mark on the centerboard line to indicate where the line went through the clutch with the board all the way up. Now when I am done sailing I just winch it up to the mark on the line and the board is all the way up when I get back to the lift. I also found the board to be very hard to winch up and was concerned about damaging the centerboard by cranking too hard. My dealer said that the line will slip on the winch before I can damage the centerboard. Hope this is of some help.
Greg, I am a very new 260 owner so I may not be your best source of information. I also bring my boat into very shallow water and I keep my boat on a lift. The first time I brought it up the centerboard was not all the way up. I pulled like crazy on the line to raise it but could not get it up. Spoke to my dealer who said to use the winch to winch it up. I winched it up all the way ( it is on a lift so I can see that it it up.) I then put a mark on the centerboard line to indicate where the line went through the clutch with the board all the way up. Now when I am done sailing I just winch it up to the mark on the line and the board is all the way up when I get back to the lift. I also found the board to be very hard to winch up and was concerned about damaging the centerboard by cranking too hard. My dealer said that the line will slip on the winch before I can damage the centerboard. Hope this is of some help.
Been there done that
Thanks Tim, I have always used the winch and it's always been very difficult. I was able to push the board all the way up by hand when I was under the boat when it was on the lift. Something's apparently wrong inside the compression post or other part of the keel lifting mechanism. It's almost as if someone tied a knot in the line and it won't go through a sheave or something inside.
Thanks Tim, I have always used the winch and it's always been very difficult. I was able to push the board all the way up by hand when I was under the boat when it was on the lift. Something's apparently wrong inside the compression post or other part of the keel lifting mechanism. It's almost as if someone tied a knot in the line and it won't go through a sheave or something inside.
Has Hunter Explained?
I am considering buying a H260 and am now actively reading the Hunter Forum to get tips and ideas. Has Hunter ever explained what the problem might be? I was looking at an owner's manual on the page that shows the centerboard lifting set-up and it looks like there is a sheave that could be binding (the lifting mechanism in general looks under-designed to me). I have added a link to the users manual in case you don't have that drawing. How do you use the winch to lift the centerboard?
I am considering buying a H260 and am now actively reading the Hunter Forum to get tips and ideas. Has Hunter ever explained what the problem might be? I was looking at an owner's manual on the page that shows the centerboard lifting set-up and it looks like there is a sheave that could be binding (the lifting mechanism in general looks under-designed to me). I have added a link to the users manual in case you don't have that drawing. How do you use the winch to lift the centerboard?
Lifting the centerboard
This has always been pain. Others I have spoken to have the same impression. From looking at the diagrams in the manual it looks more like a design issue. The attachment point for the uphaul line is at the top of the center board. If it were further down the length it would be considerably easier to raise. I realize they may have had other issues to contend with also. Imagine if the boat were in a sling with the centerboard down, it would be easier to grab the bottom edge of the board and raise it than to stand in the hull of the boat straddling the board and try to raise it by rotating the board up at the pivot point. Quest, to raise the centerboard you open the clutch for the centerboard uphaul line, wrap the line around the port jibsheet winch and winch it up.
This has always been pain. Others I have spoken to have the same impression. From looking at the diagrams in the manual it looks more like a design issue. The attachment point for the uphaul line is at the top of the center board. If it were further down the length it would be considerably easier to raise. I realize they may have had other issues to contend with also. Imagine if the boat were in a sling with the centerboard down, it would be easier to grab the bottom edge of the board and raise it than to stand in the hull of the boat straddling the board and try to raise it by rotating the board up at the pivot point. Quest, to raise the centerboard you open the clutch for the centerboard uphaul line, wrap the line around the port jibsheet winch and winch it up.
Thanks, but does anyone know how to fix?
Does anyone know how to service the mechanism if I can't get it warranteed?
Does anyone know how to service the mechanism if I can't get it warranteed?
Winching Centerboard
I have a similar issue with my 23.5. We use the starboard winch to lift the centerboard. It requires several wraps of the rope around the winch and constant tension to lift the board. Use the handle by ratcheting it so that you only have tension while you are pushing away from you as you can get more force this way. Hope this helps.
I have a similar issue with my 23.5. We use the starboard winch to lift the centerboard. It requires several wraps of the rope around the winch and constant tension to lift the board. Use the handle by ratcheting it so that you only have tension while you are pushing away from you as you can get more force this way. Hope this helps.
H260 Centerboard Material
Is the H260 centerboard heavy? What is it made out of? My current boat has a swing keel hade of cast iron and weighs about 600lbs. I have to use a hand winch (like on a boat trailer) to raise it up and that is fairly hard also. There have been some reports of the cable failing which leaves you in a jam when you try to get the boat back on the trailer.
Is the H260 centerboard heavy? What is it made out of? My current boat has a swing keel hade of cast iron and weighs about 600lbs. I have to use a hand winch (like on a boat trailer) to raise it up and that is fairly hard also. There have been some reports of the cable failing which leaves you in a jam when you try to get the boat back on the trailer.
Check the Archives
Crazy Dave described a while back how to adjust the pennant for the centerboard. I have little trouble pulling mine up by hand nor has been a problem on a couple of of H26s I've been on. I wonder if it would work to add a couple more blocks to reduce the effort?
Crazy Dave described a while back how to adjust the pennant for the centerboard. I have little trouble pulling mine up by hand nor has been a problem on a couple of of H26s I've been on. I wonder if it would work to add a couple more blocks to reduce the effort?
Get hold of me
I can figure whom you bought your boat from. Give me a call. I am considered the godfather who knows but you have something that is going on the others will not know about or it could be several items.. Call me. Ask for some one to contact you to give you my email address and phone number. The only requirement is that you may not post who or where I am at out of respect for the forum.
I can figure whom you bought your boat from. Give me a call. I am considered the godfather who knows but you have something that is going on the others will not know about or it could be several items.. Call me. Ask for some one to contact you to give you my email address and phone number. The only requirement is that you may not post who or where I am at out of respect for the forum.
Greg E-mail me
I would e-mail you the requested information but I can't find you in the owners directory. E-mail me at jjcostello@netzero.com and I'll give you the information necessary to get in touch with the crazy godfather.
I would e-mail you the requested information but I can't find you in the owners directory. E-mail me at jjcostello@netzero.com and I'll give you the information necessary to get in touch with the crazy godfather.
It's possible your boat was misrigged.
I repaired a 01 260 that was misrigged from the factory. They missed the turning block in the centerboard well, which of course created alot of friction. Jeff Peltier
I repaired a 01 260 that was misrigged from the factory. They missed the turning block in the centerboard well, which of course created alot of friction. Jeff Peltier
- Status