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Looking at the 26M design it appears that the trunk is pretty strong. The Mac 25 has an unbreakable 650 lb swing keel. Granted, it's not a dagger board but it does bang around and I've hit several things with the two 25's I've owned. My impression is that the 26M trunk is stronger than the 25 but it's hard to know for sure. I'm still waiting for my wife to get back into town so I can try out my lead filled daggerboard.

Still don't have my keel. They had problems casting the lead. Hopefully it will be done next week, but I heard that for the last 2 weeks. I'm hoping to get the keel in time for the end of the rains and actually sail the thing.

delevi,
It seems like the upper portion of the trunk could be reinforced if you're worried about hitting something with the board partially up. I hadn't thought of that issue. I'll have to keep it in mind since I reinforced my board. Looking forward to hearing how your boat sails with the new board.

Me too. If the weather wasn't so bad out here, I would be even more anxious to get the new keel. By the way. I went ahead and had them run the uhmw strip all the way down the trailing edge. Since it will cause virtually no added turbulance and the cost was only $40 more, it's a no brainer for adding flexibility to use the board partially deployed. It does, however bring up the concern of the weaker (upper) area of the trunk being vulneralbe in case of striking an underwater object. Not sure how I would go about reinforcing it, but I think I will only use it part down when going in & out of the marina under power, or 3/4 way up when sailing downwind, so the risk should be minimal.

The lead is being cast tomorrow morning. Hopefully I'll have my hands on the keel by the end of next week. Long project. If this is thing works well and any of you decide to order such a keel from Joel, it should go much faster since he will have all the moulds.

Leon

delevi
I have enjoyed hearing your progress on this experimental Keel. Were all in your corner on this mission and praise your vigilant efforts in its construction. I thank you for posting the progress while we remain optimistic for what we all believe will reward your hard work.
Thanks Leon

The lead was cast successfully. Came out to 147 lbs, taking up 14" of the keel's length. It's all built and the outer skins in place. Should be fared and painted on Monday, and shipped Tuesday. All I need is a few strong guys to help me load it into the DB trunk. Of course, if I had those four 250 lb guys to take sailing to use as rail meat, I wouldn't need the ballasted keel

Leon

delevi
Maybe you could rig some stays with the mast removed, to the mast-lifting device from the chain plates and lengthen its stay to the bow to provide a Gin-Pole for lifting the new Weighted Keel into position for setting up its safety line and hoisting tackle. You might use the mast if you can clear the opening and the halyard block is strong enough?

GIN POLES A gin pole consists of an upright mast that is guyed at the top to maintain it in a vertical or nearly vertical position and is equipped with suitable hoisting tackle. The gin pole is predominately used in erection work because of the ease with which it can be rigged, moved, and operated, and it is suitable for raising loads of medium weight. (From the Net)Daggerboard lift

They Theirs,

I'm not sure I follow your suggestion. I certainly don't want to buy any equipment for the task. I'll just get a few friends to help me load the keel into the DB trunk. If you're suggesting using the mast raising pole/winch, I'm not sure if it is tall enough to do the job, but might be a possibility, at least when the board is part way in the trunk to help lower it down, since there is nothing to grip other than the stop & hoisting lines which are 6' up with the board vertical. The stays on the mast raising system should be adequate, secured to the stanchions, so I don't think I'll need to secure anything to the chain plates. This actually may be a good tool for the job. The mast can't be used since it hast to be out of the way to have access to the DB trunk. If I'm missing something here, let me know.

Leon

Delevi,
I see that the board came out to 147 lbs. I don't see it taking more than one other friend to help you get it in place. I would just tie your line off first to the baord before you lower it. Keep us informed. Tony

Leon, there are two lifts required. Assuming your boat is sitting on the trailer:
1. The lift up onto the deck needs a couple of linebackers standing in the parking lot. From my "armchair view" I'd like it to end up horizontal, flat on deck and lying beamwise between the lifelines.
2. Next somehow - the hoist from flat on deck to being suspended above the trunk.

I might consider using TT's alternate approach, but jib halyard instead of main halyard. Do you trust the jib halyard's block? Mine is pretty well-founded, essentially pinned by a mast thru-bolt, but my halyard's not long enough to lead back to the winch.

Upon reflection, I think I'd probably just change the jib halyard to a longer rope and lead it back to the port winch, serving as the primary hoisting rig (requiring a beefy shackle of course). You might actually combine both of the above lifts, and just bypass the horizontal stage, between the lifelines.

• A. Remove the port lifeline & have a couple of guys standing in the parking lot;
  B. Another helper and yourself on deck;
  C. Also attach the main halyard, holding it taut to the starboard winch (safety backup);
  D. Lift to clear the deck, use a blanket-slide draped over the rubrail, 3 guys needed on deck (jib winch, main winch, and guider);
  E. Slowly guide the vertical board from port rail to the trunk slot;
  F. Devise process to replace the halyards with the 2 working lines (stopper & lift-line);
  G. Hope you can get to problem "F" unscathed - it will be the least of above!

Sounds like quite an event! Except that I'm pinned this weekend (babysitting a 3-yr old), I'd really like to be there to help! I'd see if the Mommy-type will authorize a field trip. If so, I'll bring along a video camera!

147 lbs of lead at the bottom. The whole thing will weigh around 180 lbs. Two people are fine for that weight, but the difficult part is having nothing to grip. I plan to set the lines ahead of time, but it will have to be lowered about half way until anyone can grab the lines.

Leon

Frank,

The halyards would be of no use, since the mast must be all the way down. On the the DB trunk is directly below the mast step, mast right over the trunk opening. The mast must be completely down and out of the way for access to the trunk opening on deck. The good thing is the trailer has a steel bar below the DB exit point under the hull. I wrapped a piece of thick hose around this bar and taped it with duct tape. This should provide enough insulation not to scratch the bottom of the keel. I plan to fully lower the keel to let it rest on this bar. The lines will already be rigged ahead of time, so once it's in, I just need to run them through the blocks and winch the keel back up about 6 inches. I think 2-3 guys can lift the 180 lb keel on the deck without much trouble. Granted, it sits quite high up there on the trailer. Once on deck, the only way I see this working is to have a couple of guys bear hug the keel and lower with one or two more guys holding the lines up high until it is low enough to get some leverage and lower with the lines. I think I'll rig the mast raising system to assist in the 2nd half of the lowering process, and also as a safety measure, in case it drops; per TT's suggestion. The pole isnt very thick so I dont know if it would hold up to the shock load of 180 lbs dropping Sure could use & appreciate all the help I can get, so if you can take a field trip with the 3-year old and that camcorder, that would be great. I think I have my brother and another friend signed up, so I have 3 so far. Four would probably be better.

Leon

DUH ... guess that shows what an X-er knows about daggerboards!

I'd be mighty reluctant to have 2 guys trying to hug that board between 'em (and that's the problem, between 'em). Okay, so here's another thought. Rig a net or girdle from very strong 1/8" line, about half-way up the board. Ropes attach fore 'n aft at the girdle's top, permitting them to lower-away.

Depending upon the amount of clearance available between board and trunk, you might even sling a couple of 3/8" anchor lines under the board's bottom edge? Assuming you can prevent the lines from rolling off the ends of the board, four guys on those 4 tails of line - piece 'a cake.

Come to think ... just use a couple of webbing straps, and terminate one to a port stanchion base, other to starboard. Just two guys can handle the two tails, each with a 2:1 purchase. You still need to assure that the straps cannot slip off either of the board ends (fore or aft).

Align the board on-edge, with top toward the bow and base at the trunk. One strap-guy on each side, and then the bow-guy lifts the board so it slips down an inch into the trunk, restrained by the forward strap. Continue lifting board to vertical.
D@mned easy! ... I guess THAT's why this is called an "easy-chair?"

Kinda doubt I'll be able to get there though. I'm traveling this week, returning on Friday. I still have your number somewhere. If it looks feasible I'll phone you to get some details.

Good idea Frank. The problem, as you say, is assuming the lines don't roll off. I think with plenty of tension, pulling in opposite directions, the lines may hold. There won't be enough clearance in the trunk, however, since I had the tolerances lowered (it will be a snug fit.) You did give me a good idea, though. I can rig four docking lines, two sets of two tied together across the bottom of the trailer right below where the board exits the hull. Those are very strong lines, and with enough tension via truckers hitch, should serve as a great safety net in case the keel drops. I may just test this with the stock board, dropping it down unto the safety net to see what happens. Just measured the mast raising pole and it's 73" long with the line block dropping about 6". 67" to work with, to lower a 69" board.. I think TT's idea combined with yours, and the safety net may just do the trick, since I'll have to release the girdle lines at some point. This is where the mast raising system takes over. Oh boy