Wing Keel Trailer

[teacher63]

I just bought a 1987 Hunter 23 that is good shape. However, I have 2 issues one worse than the other. It seems that the trailer had this problem that I was not aware of until I got it home. The base of the keel sits on a platform on this trailer that is 16 inches by 8 foot. I thought it was steel but to my surprise it is 3/4 plywood and rotten. I was going to replace it with 3/4 inch marine plywood at $115. I was looking for plywood and there are different species. Does anyone have any idea of kind or is there another material besides plywood.
The other issue is the boat has a CDI 2 furler. I had a CDI 1 on another boat this one worked like a charm. This one on the Hunter binds. I went to a less diameter furler line because it seemed the drum had to much line on the spool and was binding. That did not help. I had the mast stepped by a marina who knows what they are doing and tuned the mast etc. However, I was wondering if they have it to tight and it is binding inside the furler on the turn buckle. HELP!!!!!

 

[Steamboat Steve]

Instead of plywood, I am useing plastic. The kind that bathroom partitions are made of. It is very dense and will never rot.

 

[Clark]

We have a CDI 2 on our Capri 22 and it binds on occasion because the furling line is not at the proper angle when it enters the drum. It'll pile up in one spot - not wrap cleanly and jam. I have to pull on the sheet then pull on the furling line to clean it up. It'll be a simple matter for me to reposition the lead block to correct that on our boat. Also, be sure to keep a little tension on the furling line when you let the sail out. Your other boat may have had some built into the system and your new one runs more freely and lets the line get a little loose around the drum which will cause problems when you try to pull on the line to furl the sail.

Did the furler work smoothly before? Did the marina have to reassemble the forestay and furler? The manual cautions about the bearing - it could get out of position during assembly and cause problems. Also, a cotter pin improperly installed for the turnbuckle could catch on the inside of the drum. These furlers are pretty simple; the foil and drum just basically just sits on top of the bearing and spins based on the pull from the sheet or furler line so just having a tight forestay should not affect the furler at all.

I'd suggest you go through the manual for the furler. If you don't have one, the CDI website has them available online or for printout.

 

[teacher63]

Thanks, I called CDI and asked them and they said to change the size of the line. I did that and it still binds. I was just wondering if the rake on the mast is causing a problem. When they stepped the mast there is about a 6 or 8 inch rake on the mast which I was wondering is putting to much tension of the furler and causing it to bind. I have printed the manual and gone through it and nothing. I do know that the line at first was a problem.

 

[teacher63]

What kind of plastic, how thick and how big.? Does it make it slide easier? I have this high and low tide issue and can not get the boat properly aligned on the trailer on low tide. I can not wench it the little bit of distance to get it properly on the trailer, consequently it is not balanced and when I released the coupler from the truck I nearly got killed. Fortunately I had 2 spare tires under the rear of the trailer that saved the boat.

 

[Clark]

Thanks, I called CDI and asked them and they said to change the size of the line. I did that and it still binds. I was just wondering if the rake on the mast is causing a problem. When they stepped the mast there is about a 6 or 8 inch rake on the mast which I was wondering is putting to much tension of the furler and causing it to bind. I have printed the manual and gone through it and nothing. I do know that the line at first was a problem.

Two things. 1) If the rake is so great that the bottom of the drum is pushed against the deck, that could cause a misalignment and create problems but mere forestay tension changes would not. 2) Can you smoothly rotate the foil and drum by hand? Does it bind when the sail is off?