Swing keel... hypothetically

[Mike]

After reading earlier posts about swing keels, and thinking a lot about mine, I've been wondering about something....Hypothetically, wouldn't it be better to design a locking system for the C22 swing keel that kept it locked in place under most conditions, but released the keel in the event of a sudden blow? I'm thinking about a shear pin-type arrangement -- i.e., a pin that would be designed to shear off in the event of sudden stress. I'm not a metallurgist or engineer, so I don't know if this is harebrained or not.If I'm "hypothetically" correct, then the big question is, could such a system be retrofitted into an existing boat?

 

[steve c]

catalina allready did it

there is a friction locking bolt on all C22 under the foward locker port side

 

[Keith K.]

worthless friction bolt

I think maybe he's referring to an alternative to the current system. Personally I hate the darn thing and wish there was a better way. The pin digs into the keel if locked down and the keel touches bottom, and also stresses the fiberglass around the locking bolt.I'd like to see the locking bolt bulkhead made out of steel or a larger plate heavily glassed into the hull and instead of a pin, a small brake pad that wouldn't dig into the keel.-Keith K.S/V Vesta

 

[Mike]

Catalina did it... it just doesn't work

The existing system is the problem. Torque the existing bolt down good and tight, and the keel probably won't be able to move if it hits something suddenly.Just to be clear, I'm well acquainted with the existing friction bolt system. I was proposing an alternative to it...

 

[Guest]

Shear Pin...

I can't think of any reason why a shear pin arrangment wouldn't work...although I would be worried about the stress on the area of the hull that the shear pin was attached to. Ultimately, the goal is to 1) Prevent the keel from swinging into the hull and destroying your boat, and 2) Let the keel swing up if it hits something solid.You could use the locking bolt hole to put the shear pin into and drill a hole into the keel at that level. You might even be able to drill only partially into the keel and then insert the shear pin.Now, if only someone were brave enought to test this theory!!-Keith K.