Snapped Cable to Swing Keel

[Mike]

Before heading out a new crew member tried to hoist down the swing keel, well he turned the handle the wrong way and the cable either snapped or the bolt did. The question is how do you get the keel back up in order to place the boat back on the trailer. We still had a great sail

 

[Steve]

Yahoo

I had an O'Day with a swing keel, and if they are configured the same then here is what I would suggest. Two things. First, it's a swing keel. Depending on your trailer configuration, the centerboard should swing up out of the way as you bring the boat forward onto the trailer. Having said that, if the configuration of your trailer is such that the centerboard would be damaged by this method and you can not place towels/padding over whatever the centerboard would drag over, there is method number two. Take a length of line and form a large loop. Bring the boat forward through the loop and catch your centerboard with the line. Tighten your loop and the centerboard will rise with the tightening loop. Tie it off and complete loading the boat onto the trailer. Sounds harder than it really is. Good luck. Someone once said words to the effect, "once you understand sailboats are to be worked on and not sailed upon, you will enjoy your boat more." Wise man. Enjoy, and take this opportunity to check your entire keel system for wear and tear.

 

[Bayard Gross]

Here’s how to do it

The Catalina 22 swing keel weighs about 500 to 550 pounds, the specs call for this.You cannot get it onto the trailer without raising it.Secure one end of a line to one of the jib winches. Take the line forward on the outboard side of the boat of the winch that you secured the line to. Run the line forward of the forestay. Drop enough line down to make a loop to grab the keel. Take the line on the opposite outboard side back to the other winch. Snug up the line so that it hopefully is pretty well near the aft or lower end of the keel. Using a winch handle, winch up the keel.When you get to your trailer, hopefully, you’ll be able to get enough of the boat onto the trailer before you need to let go of the line securing the keel so that you can haul the boat onto the trailer with the trailer winch.I know that others have secured a new cable with the vessel in the water, but that will require a diver and you will need to remove the cable winch from the boat to attach the new cable to it.

 

[Mike]

Thank You

Thank You Very Much and Have a Merry Christmas or Happy Holiday

 

[Mike]

Thanks Guys

Love the quote about sailboats are to be worked on and not sailed upon. My wife and I bought a house built in 1897 and are renovating it, so time on the water is minimal. However if you are ever in Florida and trailer sailing stop by Crescent City near Lake Crescent. This lake is a well kept secret . My Catalina 22 averages 6 knots when the wind is blowing 10 mph or higher. No one is ever on it and it is 12 miles long and three miles wide. Once again gentlemen thank you, Ill give it a try

 

[Bob W.]

Water Depth

Mike-- Is Cresent Lake deep enough to sail on from shore line to shore line? I was of the opinon it was to shallow. Where do you put in? Can you put in at Helen's Resturant and Fish Camp on the eastern shore? Is there a dock where you can over night? Thanks