Counting turns on lifting keel:any ideas?

[Inselaffe]

Hello!

The lifting keel on my ETAP 22 is raised by putting a winch handle type thingy into a socket on the side of the tabernacle and winding it round 320 times.

At the moment I count the turns to know where the bottom of the keel is, but it's easy to lose count...

Any ideas for something simple, cheap and robust to count the turns for me?


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[boatless]

An old fashioned bicycle mileometer?

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[waterboy]

My first boat was a Dehler 25 using the same system. I invited friends along - to do the winding. When I ran out of friends, I had to sell the boat.

<hr width=100% size=1>I never make the same mistake twice. I always make new ones.

 

[Romeo]

I am pretty sure you could set up a modern cycle computer, especially one with a cadence function, to do this for you. Get one for about £20 in a bike shop. (£50 in a chandlers if the idea catches on. You could even time yourself to see if you can beat your record for getting it up. As it were.

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[Romeo]

I am pretty sure you could set up a modern cycle computer, especially one with a cadence function, to do this for you. Get one for about £20 in a bike shop. (£50 in a chandlers if the idea catches on). You could even time yourself to see if you can beat your record for getting it up. As it were.

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[FullCircle]

320 turns?!!! Blimey, glad my Limbo was only about 10 turns, but in a dark and smelly forecabin though!

<hr width=100% size=1>Second Chance - First Love. Bzzz!!,Phut! Jim Is it supposed to smoke like that? Of Course it is Love

 

[extravert]

You can get an electronic counter/display from RS for under £8. Part number 337-7139. It will run on a single 1.5v battery. You will need some way of triggering it, a microswitch perhaps. It could be mounted in a plastic box with switch, reset button and battery connector/holder for a few pounds more.

See <A target="_blank" HREF=http://rswww.com/cgi-bin/bv/browse/Module.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1427228395.1085065593@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccgadclhmejgfkcfngcfkmdgkldfhf.0&cacheID=ukie&3262518405=3262518405&stockNo=3377139>here</A>.

<hr width=100% size=1>One day, I want to be a real sailor. In the mean time I'll just keep tri-ing.

 

[graham]

Cant suggest anything to count the turns but could a cordless electric drill be adapted to wind it up and down?

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[VicS]

The link dosn't work!

You will also find an Electronic counting module in Maplins catalogue.

A magnetic reed switch might be another way of triggering a counter.



<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple>Ne te confundant illegitimi.</font color=purple>

 

[McNab]

what about attaching a cord to bottom of keel with a bobbin on the end led through a hole in the top of the keel casing? when the keel is fully down, the bobbing is tight against the casing.

Assuming it is above the WL.

or via a pully to transome, externally.

Or how about a 'door viewer' fastened thro' top of keel casing, so you can have a looksee?

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[ex-Gladys]

Jeez... I thought 100 pumps on our hydraulic pump was bad!!!

<hr width=100% size=1>Larry Botheras

Anderson 26 "Amber"

 

[Inselaffe]

I think the idea of having 320 turns is that then it's very easy to turn, although I think the screw needs regreasing, so it's a bit of a work at the moment but getting better, or so the people I have designated that job to so far tell me.....

Funnily enough, they also suggested a battery drill! but the keel is 500kg and raises 80cm, and at the moment the torque would just leave me there with a stationary drill just getting hot. Maybe I'll see how it is when I get the keel regreased at the end of the year. Maybe a car starter motor on the battery, but thats getting too big.

I like the bike computer idea (ready made), but I didn't think that I'd get the precision down to the nearest turn (or 5 or 10). But what is a cadence function?

The electronic counter also sounds like a good idea, Is there any way I could do it without a contact micro switch- it would certainly get broken/missed as the handle is quite a good fit but still wobbles a bit. Is a magnetic reed switch a sensor type switch?

I want to avoid anything involving removing the keel to cut holes or attach indicators, I'd have to get the boat craned out and then raised with the crane whilst I wind the keel out.

Thanks for the help

Leigh



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[Romeo]

cadence is the number of turns of your pedal per minute. Measured with a sensor on the frame and a magnet on the crank shaft. Someone cycling with a high cadence has their legs spinning round fast. Not absolutely sure if the computers will give a break down to number of turns, rather than the rate of turning.

As a low tech solution, how about some sort of abacus where you move a bead accross every fifty turns. I am sure the momentary rest would be welcome.

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[danera]

I wouldn't bother with the cadence function as this just measures rpm & costs more. You can do it with a standard cycle computer & the distance function. Choose one that allows you to adjust the wheel circumference to a nice round number eg 1 metre, then the trip distance in metres will equal the revolutions. To be flash, get a cordless one & mount the display on the bulkhead!

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[Romeo]

I have refined my abacus idea further. Very low tech but hey. You need to keep 6 x 50p and 1x 20p on the boat. Have a mug handy. Every 50 turns put 50p in the mug. Count the pennies to find the number of turns. No wires, no batteries, no adjustments neccessary and spare cash on board for a pint and a packet of crisps in an emergency.

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[SteveGorst]

We have the Etap 26 with an identical system, except I think ours needs winding 400 or so turns. I don't do it every trip, just when I think the tide is geting a bit low as we are coming back up the river into Conwy. I try to ensure my 18 year old son is with us on these occasions.

We don't worry about the count to much as there is a bolt on the side of the keel housing that goes up and down with the keel. It is possible for the person on the tiller to watch the bolt as the other person winds.

I am surprised that there is no grease nipple to keep the mechanism nicely greased. The manual that we have only suggests greasing every few years.(without the manual I'm afraid I can't remember how many) Does yours have a grease nipple, if not what do you reckon to the feasablility of fitting one.

On the positive side it really does let you know if your getting unfit, when I do it I do it in 50 wind bursts and then a short breather. By the end of the season it really is getting noticable easier.

You mentioned that your winder reckons the mechanism is freeing off and it is getting easier. Have you though they may just be getting stronger!!

Cheers
Steve





<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://"www.nwcc.info">North Wales Cruising Club</A>

 

[Inselaffe]

My ETAP 22 is from 1981 (designed '71 I think), they hadn't refined the system by then, no grease nipple, you have to take the keel out. I'll do it end of the year. Also no indicator.

It's my first year in a boat bigger than a dinghy and I'm based at the mouth of the Jade river in Germany (of Riddle of the sandbanks- lots of mud just like home on the east coast) so I like to know where the keel is. It's a half tide berth and although the mud is soft enough for me to leave the keel down, I'd have to wind it up to leave at half tide anyway, and don't like the idea of dragging all the mud up into the case, so its wound down & up every time we go out and come in

I think you're right, it's getting easier as we get fitter- a whole winter of beer and sausages don't do no good to noone.

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[Inselaffe]

I like it a lot in principle, but people 'trusting' (ok - 'deficient in worldly wisdom or informed judgment') enough to come sailing with me usually can't count to 50 (unless they have 10 hands to use).



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[SteveGorst]

Ours is an 83 model and is our first yacht. I have had fishing dinghys up to now. We sail out of Conwy, North Wales, and have a deepwater mooring but it can get very shallow getting in and out of the river. We've had great fun with the boat but you do have to get used to reefing earlier than others. I was sailing in a 20 knot wind a couple of weeks ago and had 2 reefs in the main and 5 rolls in the head sail while others still had full sail up. I was still going near enough as fast though with the boat upright enough not to spill my coffee!! If I let her heel more than 20 degrees she develops a lot of weatherhelm and is difficult to hold on course so sail area is crucial.

What impressed us about the Etap was how well finished she was compared to other boats of the same age, no headlining problems, no damp/condensation, light airy interior, insulated, unsinkable....

Power to your right arm... A season of winding and you'll have no trouble with lifting those large Steins of Beer!!

Steve

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://"www.nwcc.info">North Wales Cruising Club</A>