Swing Keel Problem

[Jeepster]

I'm the new owner of a 98 250WB. The boat is up on stands with the keel down about 1 foot...not enough to see where the cable attaches to the keel. To get the keel up any farther requires WAY WAY too much effort. I undid the boot around the cable under the steps and it appears that there is not a lot of purchase still available. I should be able to pull it up some but it does not want to go. I ordered a retro-kit fron Catalina to switch to the non-metallic cable but I'm still not sure that the cable isn't binding somewhere else. Any input you might give would be appreciated.

 

[Bob B.]

Keel cable wound on itself and binding?

I'm not sure that I understand your problem but the following happened to me:While the boat was on the trailer, the keel cable was allowed to go slack on the winch drum & the cable slipped under itself before it was fully wound up. The cable was trapped & binding on the winch drum. I put the boat into the water & tried to lower the keel. It lowered a few turns on the winch & would go down no farther. As long as the keel weight was hanging on the cable, the cable was seized.I had to motor the boat into shallow water & ground it so there was no weight on the keel, reach the cable with a long screwdriver & untangle the cable on the winch drum. After the cable was straightened out, no more problem.BTW, what is a non metalic cable?

 

[Jeepster]

Non-matalic cable

When speaking to a Catalina Dealer at my marina and telling him of my keel difficulties (hard to operate) he said that Catalina was supplying a retro-kit for the cable at cost. I called customer service at Catalina who directed me to call the Florida plant. The sent me one small block to replace (Harken) and a fitting to attach to the keel and a length of woven line that looks to be between 1/4 and 3/8. It is made of "Vectra" a material that I am not familiar with but is apparantly as strong or stronger than the cable and very cut resistant. I haven't done the install as of yet. The instructions look less than clear but the gentleman at Catalina told me when taking the order that it is a pretty straight-forward install. The reason for this retro-fit was an electrolosis problem with the cable. The new block helps with an easier raise of the keel for those of us past 50 or so years old and diminishing upper body strenght

 

[Bob B.]

Mechanical advantage?

It sounds like if you are adding a block, you might be getting an additional 2:1 mechanical advantage. This would make lowering/raising the keel much easier but it would take twice as many turns on the crank.

 

[Dick of Sylvan]

Check Turning Ball in "Volcano"

Jeep: You might check the bronze turning ball in the rubber hose that the cable runs down from the winch thru the hull. Maybe it is worn out, or maybe even has the cable installed on wrong side which would lead the cable to start cutting thru fiberglass and therby binding. And you may want to replace the hose and be sure the clamps are good and firm. Parts available thru Catalina Direct. www.catalinadirect.com I think. RK

 

[Don]

C250 Information

For more info on the C250, check out the International Association, especially the Sailor's Forums. You won't find a better resource anywhere. Click on the Related Link...