Cordless impact wrench to raise/lower lifting keel?

[sealegsjim]

Could I use a cordless (24V) impact wrench to raise/lower the lifting keel on my boat. The keel isn't difficult to operate but it is 120 turns which is a bit of a pain. Clarke do one for about £100 which generates 220Nm which should be more than enough grunt for instance the propriety Winchrite develops 110Nm. I am just not sure whether the impact operation would work to continuously operate the screw mechanism. Thanks in anticipation

 

[rogerthebodger]

Could I use a cordless (24V) impact wrench to raise/lower the lifting keel on my boat. The keel isn't difficult to operate but it is 120 turns which is a bit of a pain. Clarke do one for about £100 which generates 220Nm which should be more than enough grunt for instance the propriety Winchrite develops 110Nm. I am just not sure whether the impact operation would work to continuously operate the screw mechanism. Thanks in anticipation

I wouldn't use and impact driver as it could damage the mechanism. I would use a normal battery drill and see how it goes.

I have a screw jack powered by an old 12VDC battery drill lifting the front engine cover on my boat that id too heavy for me to lift and that works OK.

One of the later more powerful battery drills should do the job with ease.

 

[macd]

Agree with Rogershaw about potential damage from impact drivers (if by that you mean an electric rattle gun) -- although the ones I've use only rattle when confronted with a very high load, which might not apply in this case. But battery drills have come on so much in recent years that I'm sure one could handle the job. (Even my little 9V Makita packs a hefty punch.) Borrow and try?

 

[Plevier]

It will need a pretty hefty drill. I tried a normal cordless on a screw jack lift keel (First 29) and it soon started smoking!
(If you need to make an adapter that's like a winch handle, use 4 square nuts - I forget what size - locked together on a bolt with 45 degrees rotation between adjacent ones. Works fine.)

 

[TheIrishSurfer]

On our etap23il we have used an old Golf Trolley motor connected to the main battery. It drives the keel up or down pretty quickly and can be done single handed providing you watch the indicator on when to stop. I've built a waterproof casing and used it for 2 seasons now with no problems. We keep the main engine running while using it though. It's stored in a cockpit locker when not in use.

 

[sealegsjim]

It will need a pretty hefty drill. I tried a normal cordless on a screw jack lift keel (First 29) and it soon started smoking!
(If you need to make an adapter that's like a winch handle, use 4 square nuts - I forget what size - locked together on a bolt with 45 degrees rotation between adjacent ones. Works fine.)

That is why I thought about an impact wrench which has much more torque than a drill. Also, I made an adapter by butchering a winch handle.

 

[jackho]

I have a 18v DeWalt Right angle drill rated 400 watts. Cost £55 e-bay. I use to raise sail on 37FT boat. Cheaper than a powered winch. Can easily access awkward spaces and has good long handle grip.

 

[Mister E]

For a normal long screw thread you could find that the impact hammer action damages the thread. This could be expensive in the long run.
A good battery drill (with built in gearbox) on low speed would probably be better.

 

[guernseyman]

My erstwhile Marina neighbour in a Beneteau routinely used a good drill to raise and lower his keel. I cannot remember the make, but it was a sort of khaki green when he produced it to shift a bolt on my steering wheel pedestal.
He came from a family of garage owners and was something of a mechanic, stripping down his boat engine for fun when he was bored. He modified the bearing for the keel, which he reckoned Beneteau had got wrong.

 

[sealegsjim]

Many thanks for all of your useful ideas. A forum member PM'd me with an idea which I responded two twice with no further contact from him. Is there some problems with PMs? I recently contacted another forum member with info he requested (twice) with no response.