Swing Keel cable broke.

[Mettee]

Hey All,

The other day when I launched my 26s to put it in the Millerton Lake marina here in California, the cable on the swing keel broke. I assume the keel is in the down position (I'll swim down to check before I take it out of the slip.) which I assume will be fine for this summer, but I want to get an idea of what I'll need to do to fix it.

Here are some questions, but any advice you can give would be helpful.

Is there anyplace I can see how the cable is attached or find instructions on how to replace it?

What kind of problems will I encounter putting it back on the trailer if the cable can't be replaced while the boat is afloat?

Thanks in advance,
Steve

 

[justsomeguy]

I've read of instances in this forum where the boats were able to be winched back onto the trailer.

I think I'd put the trailer in as deeply as possible when doing so.

Good luck.

 

[walt]

At least once, I completly forgot to bring the centerboard up and put the boat on the trailer.. no problem.. I would pick a no wind day to do this so that you can bring the boat in very straight..

 

[caguy]

I used 3/16'' 7x19 ss cable rope. You'll need about 10'. You'll also need an eye thimble and a couple of ferrules. West Marine will let you use their tools to make it up. They will tell you how to do it , but they are not allowed to do it for you. While you're at it replace the plastic tube. Don't cut it too long or it will get sucked into the winch and pulled off the through hole fitting. The through hole fitting should have a grove worn into it by now. Rather than replace it simply unbolt it and flip it around so the grove is facing aft. Make sure you use some of Mainsail's handy dandy butyl tape to bed it.

 

[Doc_holiday]

On my clipper, I was able to swim below (although it was thanksgiving on the Potomac and about 55 degrees). What I ended up doing was getting a stainless steel winch cable from I think bass pro (it's a 1/4" stainless that was designed for a trailer winch) it had an eye on it. I found a long D stainless shackle and fed the cable up from the bottom to a friend and I hooked the eye to shackle and made the connection to the cast iron swing keel. I don't know how that would work on the Mac keel.

Just don't drop the shackle pin when swimming below. Have a spare.

 

[Mettee]

thanks all!

 

[StinkBug]

My keel simply has a bolt running through it side to side that also passes through an eye swagged into the end of the cable.

 

[Mettee]

Thanks. Makes me feel better.

At least once, I completly forgot to bring the centerboard up and put the boat on the trailer.. no problem.. I would pick a no wind day to do this so that you can bring the boat in very straight..

Thanks!

 

[Mettee]

Thanks. I'll give this a try. Water is warmer here.

On my clipper, I was able to swim below (although it was thanksgiving on the Potomac and about 55 degrees). What I ended up doing was getting a stainless steel winch cable from I think bass pro (it's a 1/4" stainless that was designed for a trailer winch) it had an eye on it. I found a long D stainless shackle and fed the cable up from the bottom to a friend and I hooked the eye to shackle and made the connection to the cast iron swing keel. I don't know how that would work on the Mac keel.

Just don't drop the shackle pin when swimming below. Have a spare.

I'll need a few spares. <grin>