V25 Keel thunk scare!

[andiamo_25]

We were cranking the keel up today (as our slip is a tight squeeze with some shallow rocks nearby) and partway up there was a boat shuddering clunk - as if the keel fell down. I thought the cable may have broken. Upon continued cranking though, there was still weight on the cable.

Once we were tied up, I was worried the pivot bolt had broken since I could not see the keel head through the lock pin hole - I pictured the keel dangling by the cable. I was prematurely scared though because it turns out I just hadn't lowered it enough. I kept lowering it and there it showed up through the lock hole again. So it appears it's pivoting up and down as expected.

So about that thunk... Is it possible that the keel cable was wrapped around the keel and when it raised up it slipped off and the keel fell? Or is it possible that the keel cable was just "flipped around" where it attaches to the keel - wrapped up on itself somehow - and it straightened out and let the keel fall a bit? Or the winch slipped? Or...?

Just wondering what I should check for now to be sure everything is OK. Also curious about what I can do to avoid this scare again - not to mention I don't think it's terribly good for the cable, winch, or centreboard trunk to have to sustain the force of stopping the keel from free fall!

This is our first season with the boat in the water - just getting the kinks worked out and will post pictures and other goodies as we clean her up. She has been dry stored for at least 10 years (most of them indoors luckily)

Thanks

[snotnosetommy]

andiamo,
Of course anyone would be nuts to say you shouldn't check things out carefully on a "new to you" boat, but I can say I have heard a "thunk" many times on my m25 when winching up the keel. In my case, it's nothing more than the cable piling up on one side of the winch, then falling off as you continue to crank. The "drop" is only an inch or so.
On another topic, there's a great mod you can probably do to make your winching a lot easier. Simply turn the winch around, drill a hole for the crankshaft & mount the crank on the outside of the companionway instead of under the ladder. Don't have to leave the cockpit or move anything to raise or lower the keel. Crank misses the cockpit floor by a knuckle plus a little air. One of the best mods i've done.

[andiamo_25]

Great, thanks... I know the previous owner of this boat which is comforting because I'm aware of its history. The cable actually looked in great shape on the trailer. But I plan to check and change the keel hardware over winter just to be sure.

I wasn't operating the winch at the time but my buddy said it felt like the cable rode up on itself and then slipped down. With that kind of weight I imagine even an inch or two of free fall would bake a reasonable thunk.

I like the idea of the exterior crank. Here's what I'd really love though - to get rid of the current handle and be able to use the genoa sheet winch handle in the keel winch!

[snotnosetommy]

Getting rid of the handle would be a great idea. I have thought a 3/4 inch socket w/ratchet would work well. But remember the winch is a brake winch, not a trailer winch, so you need the little spring on the shaft beneath the handle. If that 700# keel ever gets loose, there'll be a lot more than a little "thunk".
Good luck and good sailing.