MacGregorSailors.com

So finally got out on the water today. Rigged launched and motored out with no problems until... When I went to drop the keel I made it less than a third of the way down and snap and a very large thud followed by some choice words from me! I figured there wasnt much point in turning back then so we stayed close too home and sailed around in light wind for a few hours with no leaks evident. It was a bit of a job to get it back onto the trailer and I broke one of the jib blocks but we managed...

So now that I've vented. I am not worried about the actual replacement off the cable and I know I've stumbled across the proper size someplace on here. My issue it's that i didn't even have the lock bolt in place so I am having a hard time believing that much metal didn't smash something when it dropped...

Any ideas on where I should look for cracks or potential weak spots before I head back out again?

As always thanks in advance for all your help

On a bad day an uncontrolled keep drop rips the keel bolt out of the boat and the keel vanishes into Daby Jones locker

You end up selling your boat for 100 after listing it for 5 years as ad "just needs keel" after which the buyer comes here with his first post...

" I got this great boat for 100 USd, just needs keel" and then finds out keels cost 2000 plus transport.

So you have done well to keep your keel.

Your boat needs to come out of the water, drop the keel on land, and inspect the trunk and mount from underneath to make sure you keep your keel next season.

X2

I knew I was lucky that everything stayed attached... and it was defiantly interesting pulling up the boat landing and wondering if it was still going to be there or not! As a side note I had checked the cable before I purchased the boat and was told it was brand new and it looked like it. I guess the previous owner must have used the wrong type/size cable or it was just a freak accident it wasn't frayed no nicks etc. I think the next ones coming from bluewater!

I took the keel bolt out when I first got it to replace the rubber washers on either side as they had obviously been leaking that was straight forward and the keel cable replacement looks to be simple enough but that's a large hunk of metal to be trying to drag around.

Anybody have any hints or cheap DIY solutions for getting the boat high enough up in the air to get the keel out from under it without dropping either the keel or the boat on myself? I am very much on a budget at this point in my life and can't afford to take it to a yard...

Check the mods and search "taking my v25 off the trailer" it is by The Cuscus and posted on 10/09/2010. Found it last night after going through all the mods 1 pg at a time planing on doing that im a few months
on edit I tried to get to the mod again and no matter what I searched I keep getting no results sooo back to page by page and its on pg 30 6th entry down

In a pinch if you have a stout tree and a chain hoist that works

After you get it up get some old tires under it for "safety" does just fine
no need to pull the trailer completely out..just far enough to get to your keel

then do your work

Some may disagree, but the redneck style has worked for me many times...just always make sure the weight is on your tires not the chain hoist for safety

The mod that PP was talking about is: http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1428

Easy way to find it is to go to Mac Mods > Search Mods then select the model boat and submit. The search function can also be filtered by category. I just wish it could filter by author.

~Rich

You should be able to change the cable while the boat is on the trailer. Let the keel rest on the trailer or a block of wood. You might want to replace the cable with some Dyneema line. Its stronger that the cable. Did the cable break or did the swage come off at the end? Some folks seem to thing they can use one of those cable clamp thingies instead of a proper swage.

The cable itself broke! I an guessing it want the correct one.

What is Dyneema line? I've never heard of it.

And thanks all for pointing me in the right direction i will let you know how it goes when i get time to tackle it things are a little hectic with the holidays conning up and all

I basically used some bottle jacks to lift the boat while it was on the trailer. Placed some blocks of wood under the boat and then lowered the trailer.

dogodell wrote:
What is Dyneema line? I've never heard of it.

Dyneema is a synthetic cord similar to kevlar. It has about the same breaking strength as SS cable and no corrosion or degradation over time issues. It's used on a lot of flying blocks and you can buy it at West Marine.

Thanks for the idea and info ended up going with 3/16 7-19 stainless because i was worried about the abrasion resistance of line.

If anyone is interested

http://s1026.photobucket.com/user/silas ... t=3&page=1

it's the link to pictures... not very good at this picture thing but hopefully it works!

Long story short the old gal is up on stands keel is down no cracks save one tiny one inside near the keel bolt head that doesn't go all the way through! It did destroy the bronze bushing I had put through the keel and bend the bolt into a U

Doing it all while Ive got it up... blister repair barrier and bottom paint and trailer bunks so it will be a while before im back on but thanks for all the help and ill let you know when she's back in the water!