Swing keel-up or down when at the dock?

[joes new addiction]

Do I store my keel in the upright positon when I'm moored or at the dock?
This is when I'm all done, the sails are down, flaked, everything put away and I'm leaving for the day.
Thanks!
Joe
The sailing learning curve is pretty freakin steep when your standing at the bottom!

 

[Sailm8]

I had a C22 and always left it down. One less thing to forget when getting ready to sail.

 

[kloudie1]

On my great old Spirit 23, I used to stow mine up to keep the slime off.. No sunlight reached it and it seemed to stay cleaner.. when tucked up in the keel stub

 

[centerline]

my opinion is to leave it down if its in the water and you have the depth... its ready to sail so you wont forget to put it down... its more stabile while moving about on it and if the wind picks up thru the marina, it will rest easier against the dock...

 

[RichH]

Bring it up when at the dock.
This will better keep it from 'rocking' side to side and 'hammering' the trunk sides and for less wear on the 'pivot pin' that it hangs from.

Also depending on the geometry will also collect less slime.

 

[Benny17441]

I would keep keel down whenever I was in the boat (for stability) but otherwise up. Marine growth can quickly prevent it from raising and lowering properly. If your boat has a ballasted keel it will not let you forget to lower it and if it is a center board it is not that critical.

 

[Ross S]

If it is a swing keel then I would leave it down. If it is a centerboard then I would leave it up.

I have a Precision 21 and I leave my board up at the dock to reduce wear on the components.

 

[higgs]

Seems to me if you are in a marina where there is a lot of water movement, then up for reasons Rich H stated. Otherwise, why put the bother?

 

[cephius (Dave)]

The water depth at my slip gets lower as the season progresses. When I have the depth, I leave it down. As the water level drops, I pull it up to prevent it from dragging on the bottom.

 

[Joe Diver]

If I had a swinger that keel would be down as much as much as possible. My only reasoning is fear of the lifting mechanism failing, resulting in a keel drop that could damage the boat, even sinking her.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

From an experienced retired dealer.

If the swing keel is metal, then it highly suggested to leave it down with the boat in the water. Imagine what would happen if the cable broke and it fell down. I have repaired many trunk housings and gone after the keels in the water and the bill for repairs was high.

For swing centerboards that are not that heavy, it is a fifty fifty but if the cable breaks or line breaks, the damage will not be that all serious as a heavy metal swing keel.

It is your choice but with a metal swing keel, I suggest leaving it down. even on a trailer, the keel should rest on the keel tray for the same reason.

Crazy Dave

 

[Ray Bowles]

There is a "Puck Kit" available for the C22 keel that is installed high on the cb and eliminates the side to side motion when the cb is down. It is very effective in reducing wear on the pivot pin assy. Having spent alot of time repairing the workings of the C22 keel raising system I have to disagree with Crazy Dave, whom I've followed and enjoyed for 12 years. The keel should be left up when on a mooring where wave action is expected. In a slip where it is not expected leave it down.
Lastly, if you are worried about a keel cable failure then look at the assembly. On the C22 it is the most simple of all inspections and far more failures are caused be pin failures than cable failures. While you are there look at your drain assembly and the connections. The C22 set-up was real shaky and subject to fasilure and that sinks the boat for sure.
Ray

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Ray Bowles;

I repaired more Catalaiina 22 and 25 swing keels over other brands. They came from lakes and the coast for repairs. Sorry to disagree but you did not fish out the keels or repair the centerboard trunk housings like I did and that goes with the keel up while on a trailer as well going down the road. It is called experience and the repairs proves the point. Some of the boats also had the spacer kits on then which you referred to and I know the history of that as well.

crazy dave condon

 

[rgranger]

Well that was clear....obviously, you should leave it updown

 

[Ctskip]

When I had a swing keel , I left it up while on the mooring and the same goes while at the dock. But that was over 30 yrs ago. I feel sure that not a lot has changed. The keel down is for stability while sailing. Not under sail, the boat is just fine with the keel raised. JMO

 

[jibes138]

I was moored next to a swing keel boat at one point when hurricane Bob went through. My Catalina 25 survived fine, the other boat had the keel swung uo and it was upside down with the mast jammed into the bttom and the motor submerged. I'd leave it down.