Beneteau 331 lift keel issue

mrplastic

mrplastic

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Has anyone any experience with the Beneteau lift keel mechanism? As you can see from the pic attached, the top nylon bearing block as cracked and needs replacement. According to a Beneteau dealer the boat has to be lifted out of the water, suspended at heeight to remove the keel lift pin and then the whole mechanism removed from within the boat. Thats a lot time and expense and I wondered if there is another way? As alway, my thanks in advance!Indiana Lift keel top bearing.jpg
 
DinghyMan said:
Quick google finds: https://www.murrayyachtsales.com/lifting-keel-maintenance/

Says "To perform this operation, follow the below described methodology: – boat on cradle or held on straps – liffting keel in lower position" so sounds like it can be done in the water
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Thanks for taking the time, I have seen this, it's the official Beneteau method, trouble is that not all of the 'Marks' mentioned are actually identified on the drawing so its not that clear. However in the absence of any other info it looks like my only choice! The bit that made me smile was " Unscrew entirely the endless screw".....I could be there forever !!
 
Sorry but that doesn't sound to me like it can be done with the boat in the water - and it would be awkward to lose the keel in deep water.

Assuming you already have a suitable cradle one option is to dig a pit to lower the keel into, if your yard or club agree - beware this will rapidly fill with water, some sort of bilge pump will almost certainly be required - and brief any helpers to be careful, the keel will be a heavy item probably prone to rolling once out of the boat.
 
I have the same keel mechanism on my SO 35. I remove the lifting mechanism every 3 years to change the anode. If you look on the Jeaneau owners forum under hints and tips there is an article I wrote on removing this mechanism. It only takes 5 mins to remove when the boat is in the slings then the boat can be lowered without it so you can then repair at your leisure. I think it would be difficult to do in the water.
 
To Mickbond

Any chance of a link to that article, or another way of getting to it, as I don't seem to be able to find it!

My boat (B331 also) coming out for summer scrub off shortly, and we struggled to get at the anode last time... Hoping to find that there is an easier way...
 
mickbond said:
I have the same keel mechanism on my SO 35. I remove the lifting mechanism every 3 years to change the anode. If you look on the Jeaneau owners forum under hints and tips there is an article I wrote on removing this mechanism. It only takes 5 mins to remove when the boat is in the slings then the boat can be lowered without it so you can then repair at your leisure. I think it would be difficult to do in the water.
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Hi, yes...I found the article and very good it is to, thankyou!!! How difficult was it to unbolt/ remove the lifting pin? How accessible is it once the keel is down? It would help to know how long it is going to take me to remove the mechanism so I can brief the boat yard. As I live in Portugal it will take a few days to get the required parts so the boat cannot be left in the slings all that time. I guess it could be gently lowered so it swings back into the keelbox????

I have just bought the boat and it would appear that the previous owners did not service the keel mechanism at any point in their ownership (8 years)! It all works OK but the obvious issue at the moment is the cracked lover bearing block atop the keel housing. I have spoken to Foxes in Ipswich they advise that my mechanism is not fitted with an anode but that the bronze nut is a wearing part and requires replacement. I have been quoted the following sums:-

698100 spheric cup - £119.00 + VAT - 4 weeks delivery
015847 Spheric Support £83.50 + VAT - available
043628 Bronze keel bolt £43.30 + VAT - available
Then
New mechanism
093481 Keel mechanism £840 + VAT
093485 lower keel strap £85.50 + VAT

No completely sure what the 'lower keel strap' is actually for? As the mechanism has not been serviced for some years I am contemplating a new mechanism but of course I wont know for sure if this is required until the existing one is examined. Any tips on what to look for?

Many thanks for everyone's input so far.

Clive
 
Removing the keel pin is best done by lowering the boat in the slings so that the lowered keel just touches the ground. Then lower the boat another 1/2 inch and all the keel weight is taken off the lowering pin (which is a bolt and nylock nut) the mechanism can then be removed from inside and the boat lowered, the keel will swing up. I was also told that there was no anode but found the remains of one when I removed the mechanism. I have never had to replace any other part of the mechanism.
 
mickbond said:
Removing the keel pin is best done by lowering the boat in the slings so that the lowered keel just touches the ground. Then lower the boat another 1/2 inch and all the keel weight is taken off the lowering pin (which is a bolt and nylock nut) the mechanism can then be removed from inside and the boat lowered, the keel will swing up. I was also told that there was no anode but found the remains of one when I removed the mechanism. I have never had to replace any other part of the mechanism.[/QUOTE

Brilliant, thanks very much for your assistance, much appreciated! I'll let you know how I get on!
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mickbond said:
Google jeanneau owners keel anode
Click to expand...

Perfect! Now found, many thanks!

Question - If the boat can be lifted high enough, and the board FULLY lowered, can you reach the anode from underneath? I am a little wary of unscrewing the internal fitting, for fear I will never get it sealed nicely again! Doesn't leak presently....
 
I've tried to undo the anode from underneath but never managed it, there is not a lot of room. You really need to clean the grot off its location before replacement. As regard re sealing, the inside fitting is above the waterline so I've never had any problems.
 
I have a First 25.7 with a lift keel. If the system on a 331 is similar then the boat will have to be lifted. The issue is a bolt that holds the far end of the mechanism to the keel itself - this can only be accessed with the keel down and from underneath the boat. Hence the need to be held high in slings. I would recommend having a car jack handy unless the bottom of the keel exactly touches the ground in the precise position to allow you to access the nut. When I removed the bolt the keel moved slightly downwards. Re-aligning the mechanism with the bolt holes in the keel would have been impossible whilst trying to lift 600kg, so I propped with some timber and a scissor jack. The whole job should take about an hour if all goes well.

It is unlikely that you will need a new lift mechanism and i would certainly not spend £840+ VAT without being sure it needed replacing - it's basically just a worm drive and there is little that can go wrong with it. It's just need a clean and regreaes.

None of this is critical stuff if the lift system is working OK, so you could just wait until the boat is next out of the water
 
Just for my interest, as I have an Anderson 22 with vertically lifting keel but am familiar with most lift keel systems inc centreboard style swing lifts - what do you mean by ' lift / lower pin ' - the pivot pin - bolt ?
 
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I have a nice PDF of the mechanism and service notes but it's too large to upload, but here is am image of the system on my 25.7. If you email. Ancasta parts they can send you the diagram for your own boat.
 

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Benny257,

thanks for that; I get the impression they were a better engineer than writer, which seems preferable :)

The load on the lift system must be horrendous at that angle, even if as the design uses a ballast stub the keel may well be lighter than mine.

I and a lot of A22' owners keep our boats on high trestles over the winter, allowing us to drop the keels for inspection and maintenance - essential for all lift keelers and a reason why trailers are not such a good idea, not only does one have to find a summer storage for them, and the boat is too heavy, too much hassle, if she sits on a trailer over winter the keel is retracted inaccessible.

I'd really want to regularly inspect the Benetau pivot and lift pins, one thing I've heard about with pivoted centreboard type lift jeels is wear on the pivot pin and elongating the hole/s in the keel plate from the boat ' jiggling ' simply moving to wave action at her mooring or berth.
 
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With the same mechanism on my Benny 343 I sit her on the bottom, wind the screw right up and out in the cabin and pour a small bit of oil down the thread, keeps it working smooth as.
Checked the mechanism whilst it was hanging in the slings this spring but it was in perfect condition so never went any further.
I guess your situation is a little different as you need to replace the part but as was said earlier it should only need the one part fixing and should be cheap.
 
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