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I just picked up a new '79 v222 for $800. Super happy! I have had it out 2 times now and still have not figure out how to put in the keel locking bolt. I am thinking it may not have one. Is that possible? Here are some picks...












I started removing bolt #1 with the keel up. It didnt' feel right, so I stopped. I think this is the one that says "do not remove" on the manual diagram. It just holds the L bracket on the bulkhead. There is a much smaller hole behind that one, but I cannot see inside it and there doesn't appear to be any hole to put through the keel. Also, I do not see any hole on the back side of the keel trunk for a long bolt to go through and secure the keel.

Q1: How do I secure the keel?
Q2" What's that big bolt#2 and plat for? I that large bolt #2 seems to be bent.
Q3: Is bolt #3 the one the keel swings on?

The keel seems to work fine. The water is still too cold in my lake (ice just off) to jump in and inspect it while it is down (at least for me).

Thanks for any old pros that know this answer.

bolt #1; if you can plainly see that it is a bracket mounting bolt, don't fear taking it out if you need to.

bolt #2; is likely your stop/lock bolt. Its bent likely because the top of the keel strikes it and rests on it all the time.
mine was bendy also. Put a new one in, no biggie.

When underway, you can take this bolt out, line up the keel hole with your winch, and put it back in.
Keel now locked. If the bolt is too bendy it might not want to go thru the hole in the keel.

Honestly with the skinny waters I have to often sail on inland lakes I almost never lock down my keel.
Its just a needless headache. Now if I were in Lake Michigan, you bet I'd be locking that keel down.

bolt #3; is definitely your keel pivot bolt. Never remove unless you have the keel supported from below with like a jack.

don't get too wrapped up in these very poor sailboat owners manuals from the 70's and early 80's.
they very often do not show your boat as built, often not even close.....

Bolt 1 is definitely the “do not remove” bolt. I doubt anything will happen if you remove it, but it supports the top of the keel trunk laterally, so sailing without it would be a big no-no.

Bolt 3 is definitely the pivot bolt.

On my 25, the locking bolt is a small (5/16”?) bolt right about where that little hole above the “bolt 2” text is in your picture. Bolt 2 and the metal plate don’t exist on my boat. Could be a difference between the models, or could be a change/fix by a previous owner? It kind of looks like what someone would do if they always wanted to sail with the keel resting in about the 3/4 down position.

OK. Thank you for the comments.

So next step is to take out bolt #2 and replace. Also, try getting a smaller bolt to fit the unlabeled hole. I'll take a nice assortment of grade 8 bolts to the ramp. Based on your comments I am suspecting Hole #2 is a user modification. Also, if you follow the arc of the swing around bolt #3 it appears that little hole will line up with where that #2 bolt is. So, I am assuming bolt #2 might need to be removed to get the keel all the way down. If that is the case, I hope water doesn't come in that hole.

I'll let you know what I find.

Mystery solved. I got bolt #2 out with some effort. It was very bent. Bolt #2 is the one that holds the keel in place, or it rests against. I suspect the keel has not been locked in the full down position for several years.

That little hole on the right goes nowhere. It's just a hole in the outer keel trunk housing.

as Wyb2 mentioned, the lock down bolt is normally a 5/16" bolt and that plate on your keel trunk is not factory.

I suspect that the PO regularly sailed skinny water and had his keel bouncing up and down a lot
when striking things like under water stumps or sand spits or whatever.
Personally I try and stay in deep enough water but I am ok with the occasional keel bounce.

Its likely he added that plate and the larger bolt to better accommodate that sailing style...

Thank you to all who replied. They all helped me.

Thanks also for this thread from a Mac 25 cousin. I have a sneaky suspicion I have a "bendy" lock bolt but can live with it.

Would like to add these safety caveats from the owner's manual:

"If you are sailing in shallow water, where you can reasonably expect to hit bottom, install the lock bolt in the top keel trunk hole before lowering the keel. Then lower the keel until it comes to rest against the bolt. Since the lock bolt now does not pass through the keel, it will swing back if you hit bottom. However, if a severe knockdown is taken, bear in mind the keel may swing back up against the hull and cause damage. Caution should be exercised when operating the boat in this manner....

The boat is self-righting only with the keel locked down. The lock bolt will assure that the keel angle is proper, and that the keel stays down in the event of a severe knockdown."

Manual aside, beating to heavy weather with a floppy keel is not advisable in any depth of water. Lock it or dock it.