Swing Keel

[Tom Thomison]

I have an O'Day 28 and would like to replace the line that raises and lowers the swing keel. I will have it hauled this winter and plan to replace it then. Any information on how this is done would be very helpful.

 

[Eric]

Replacing the line using the line

Snake another through, using the existing line. When your boat is up on straps or on stands, lower the keel. From the cockpit, tie or tape a new line to the old line (It must be flush enough to still fit through the hole down to the keel. Then, from the outside bottom of the boat, pull the old line through, which will in turn bring the new line down through. Attach the new line, and you should be set. I am not sure how the line is attached on the 28 (I have the 23). Good luck.

 

[David Hirtle]

I too had a 28'Oday with a centerboard.It's really pretty simple. Remove the plastic cover on the cabin roof, drop the board down far enough to allow you access to the shackle/carter pin that conects the centerboard line to the board. remove the small carterpin, freeing the line. go back to the cabin roof, tie a messenger line to the end of the centerboard line, secure it. Go back to the board, simply pull the centerboard line thru. Use the messenger line to pull up the new centerboard line from bottom to top. If the messenger line comes loose and falls thru, simply go back to the roof, tie a small diameter nut to the end of the messenger line, feed it thru again....ensure that the top end is secure. The 28' is a great boat, we owned ours for 10 years and sailed her thru the ICW/Florida and back to MA.