s2 6.9 drop keel
- Thread starter bgabow
- Start date
There is a line from the winch to the top of the keel and it's pulled straight up. No pivot , no cable.
The “line” is the cable to which @rgranger refers. If it is unhindered and your keel simply pulls up, the keel is obviously hanging up on something. Have you inspected both the “line” and the keel?
Does the keel blade have barnacles on it that's scraping against the boat as it's lifted or is there mud or seaweed being dragged up from the bottom as it is raised? What is the weight of the blade do you know? Could be the winch was replaced with too small of a device from the original or it is rusted up. On the other hand it may just need to be cleaned not much difference than pulling a really old sword out of a rusted and damaged scabbard. Unless it weighs 300 lbs that is. ( other possible explanations have been pre redacted due to HR oversight as wheaties commercials are not allowed in this forum )
There are blocks attached to the top of the keel that gives it purchase. I have never looked on a 6.9, but have many times on a 7.9. I have found 3:1 and 4:1 purchases. Not sure why they offered two types. Maybe they increased the purchase with later models. So, need to remove the deck plate so you can see if there is a problem with them. Also check the sheave that the tail line turns on as it feeds back to the winch. If that is shot, you need to replace. If all of that is OK and there is nothing interfering with the keel in the trunk, like barnacles, fish (I have seen fish stuck in them), or the keel hasn't split and is thicker to inhibit smooth raising or lowering, then maybe you need to find a stronger crew member, or you need to work out more to develop your arm muscles. Also maybe a 10" winch handle would give you more leverage than an 8" winch handle. Last two resorts are: electric winch or electric winch handle.
