Replacing Swing Keel Line

[Simon Sexton]

Good morning, everyone! I want to start off by saying that joining this forum is one of the best things I've ever done, and that I've been around the block, and you guys know what's up more than most sailors I've worked with; thank y'all for sharing your marine knowledge with everyone, I really do wish I saw more of it in real time! So, down to the question of the day: I have been restoring a 1987 AMF Sunbird for about a month now, and I've replaced all the running rigging and repaired the standing rigging to get her sailable again. She will eventually be race-spec when I'm done with her, but for now I just need to get her in the water and sailing again. All that's left to get that done is replace the line that lifts and lowers the swing keel; the current line is old and dirty. It'll probably work, but I don't wish to take any chances. I am nowhere near a crane or lift, as the boat is on a trailer in my driveway in Cypress, just outside houston. If anyone has any ideas as to how I could access the keel and line without removing the boat from the trailer, that would be awesome!

Thanks guys!

S.S.

 

[LakeShark]

Too funny I just sold my Sun Bird 2 years ago. Accessing the keel on this boat is easy (comparatively). You can do it in the water by simply pulling the halyard over and tying it to a tree at the shore line and she will float right on her side (done it once) or you can remove it from the trailer and just pull her over on the lawn. The Keel is held inplace with a small metal clip that can be unscrewed and allow for removal of the keel itself. The line for the keel is a different story. Depending on the year some simply have a knot that passes through the trailing edge of the board to an access hole where you can untie it and remove the line while others (like mine) have the line and knot glassed into the rudder itself. You'll have to tip her in the side to know for sure. After finding my line glassed into the rudder I opted to just use the old dirty one until it broke (which it never did).

One other thought if you tip the boat on the side in the yard and not on the water use some 2X4s to hold it on its side so it's easier to flip back over and then pull back onto the trailer. There is a good Owners group for them on Yahoo still and while it is less active now it has much in the way of pictures, manuals, and resources in the archives. Hope this helps. There a fun little boat and relatively stable as well. Only major issue is centerboard swelling and sticking so keep a wooden dowel with you to push it down through the line hole if it sticks while you're out on the water for when sand, weeds, etc... jam the board.

 

[Simon Sexton]

Too funny I just sold my Sun Bird 2 years ago. Accessing the keel on this boat is easy (comparatively). You can do it in the water by simply pulling the halyard over and tying it to a tree at the shore line and she will float right on her side (done it once) or you can remove it from the trailer and just pull her over on the lawn. The Keel is held inplace with a small metal clip that can be unscrewed and allow for removal of the keel itself. The line for the keel is a different story. Depending on the year some simply have a knot that passes through the trailing edge of the board to an access hole where you can untie it and remove the line while others (like mine) have the line and knot glassed into the rudder itself. You'll have to tip her in the side to know for sure. After finding my line glassed into the rudder I opted to just use the old dirty one until it broke (which it never did).

One other thought if you tip the boat on the side in the yard and not on the water use some 2X4s to hold it on its side so it's easier to flip back over and then pull back onto the trailer. There is a good Owners group for them on Yahoo still and while it is less active now it has much in the way of pictures, manuals, and resources in the archives. Hope this helps. There a fun little boat and relatively stable as well. Only major issue is centerboard swelling and sticking so keep a wooden dowel with you to push it down through the line hole if it sticks while you're out on the water for when sand, weeds, etc... jam the board.

Thank you very much! I'll most likely put her in the water first; we have some decent sized lakes in the neighborhood that folks sail in all the time; it'll probably be there, where I check things out! I will also keep the sticking in mind, as I've heard it to be common in these boats before. I'll be sure to have fun with her; thank you for your help!