Beneteau 29 First, Lifting keel issues

[dallas pitts]

the keel is starting to make a banging noise in the stub keel is there any possibility that the keel will drop out or can i assure my wife that is not going to happen ?

 

[neil_s]

Sorry - you can't reassure your wife. As the owner of a drop keel boat myself all this stuff under water needs the best maintenance. Any signs of deterioration must be investigated. You might find it's OK, but you have to look!

 

[greeny]

I'm fairly sure that all the Beneteau lift/swing keel mechanisms are all very similar set ups. If yours is not like I am describing then ignore this post.
As a previous owner of a 323 lift keel (recently sold) I can tell you its extremely unlikely the keel will drop out. The banging is usually because the large pin it rotates on or the keel plate hole has worn a bit and the pads inside the stub keel are worn allowing it to move a little side to side. The pin on mine was at best estimate about 3 inches diameter but I didn't have to change it. It would take a lot of wear to get through that! Its on this basis I say it will be very unlikely to drop out. I had a friend with a 311 and his keel knocked for several years with no problems.
The exposed pad insert (in the photo) is made of some sort of engineering plastic and is designed to stop the keel knocking in the box when in the raised position. One each side and they can be adjusted in and out by rotating them until they snug up on the keel blade. Then refill the hole with epoxy filler and fair off.
There are another two pads up front near the main pin pivot that do the same for when the keel is down. I didn't need to touch those so no pictures I'm afraid.

Hope this can offer some re-assurance.
Technically it is a swing keel of course regardless of what Beneteau call it. But best we don't get into that debate on here.

 

[dallas pitts]

Thanks for that are you a beneteau first 29 owner with the centreboard system

I'm fairly sure that all the Beneteau lift/swing keel mechanisms are all very similar set ups. If yours is not like I am describing then ignore this post.
As a previous owner of a 323 lift keel (recently sold) I can tell you its extremely unlikely the keel will drop out. The banging is usually because the large pin it rotates on or the keel plate hole has worn a bit and the pads inside the stub keel are worn allowing it to move a little side to side. The pin on mine was at best estimate about 3 inches diameter but I didn't have to change it. It would take a lot of wear to get through that! Its on this basis I say it will be very unlikely to drop out. I had a friend with a 311 and his keel knocked for several years with no problems.
The exposed pad insert (in the photo) is made of some sort of engineering plastic and is designed to stop the keel knocking in the box when in the raised position. One each side and they can be adjusted in and out by rotating them until they snug up on the keel blade. Then refill the hole with epoxy filler and fair off.
There are another two pads up front near the main pin pivot that do the same for when the keel is down. I didn't need to touch those so no pictures I'm afraid.

Hope this can offer some re-assurance.
Technically it is a swing keel of course regardless of what Beneteau call it. But best we don't get into that debate on here.

 

[dallas pitts]

Thanks for that are you a beneteau first 29 owner with the centreboard system
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Thanks for that are you a beneteau first 29 owner with the centreboard system

Thanks for that are you a beneteau first 29 owner with the centreboard system

 

[dallas pitts]

Hi thanks that was helpful Dallas