Drop keels

[Wansworth]

Looking at a yacht with the steel drop keel housed in the iron ballast keel,how often would I need to get the boat out to inspect the drop keel.Antifouling I imagine once a year

 

[UK-WOOZY]

same as mine, for the first time i have seen the drop keel since getting the boat 6 years ago was last month as its on the yard atm and for the first time i am able to drop the keel most of the way, and it didnt seem too bad of a condition.

 

[Wansworth]

same as mine, for the first time i have seen the drop keel since getting the boat 6 years ago was last month as its on the yard atm and for the first time i am able to drop the keel most of the way, and it didnt seem too bad of a condition.

Thanks,it’s a Dufour 1800

 

[neil_s]

I don't antifoul mine - it spends most of it's time in the case and doesn't grow any weed. Keeping corrosion at bay is a different matter! Bear in mind that it's essential to maintain the lifting gear in good order. I do mine every winter.

 

[UK-WOOZY]

im unable to get at the mechanism without paying loads for the yard to hold the boat in the crane slings

 

[William_H]

As said the keel will not grow weed if it is inside the case (in the dark). That is if left in the water. If it is to be craned out then you might invewst in stands to raise the hull far enough to drop the keel for inspection. I presume it is a swing plate. If it is ona trailer it gets a bit tricky. A friend with a fin keel 21fter made up from steel girders a overhead frame and using webbing straps and chain blocks was able to hoist the boat off the trailer. In his case to remove fin keel.
In my case I have a vertically dropping keel. So only40cms slot front to back. I keep it on a swing mooring keel down but bring it home each winter. I have removed sections of the trailer so if I push the boat back on the rollers by 20cms I can drop the keel down on to the ground. I jack the trailer up about 10cms on blocks. I can then paint with a/f the bottom half of the keel. I am able to paint the top half of the keel when retracted from inside the cabin. Not much help to you but perhaps food for thought. ol'will

 

[Refueler]

My 5.5m weekender has twin pivoted keel plates. Changes her from 20cm to 1.0m draft ..

I get to see them on average every 3rd or 4th year ...

Paint ? Never painted ... but she sits in freshwater. I just have to make sure I 'work' the keels often to stop pivot from clogged.

 

[DownWest]

Currently reviving a Kelt 6.20. Left for quite a while and the steel plate had comprehensively rusted in the shallow ballast keel. So bad, that the only way to get it out was to cut the side of the keel away. Huge amount of descaling, nearly finished, to be followed by lots of epoxy.
Hope yours is a lot better

 

[Wansworth]

Currently reviving a Kelt 6.20. Left for quite a while and the steel plate had comprehensively rusted in the shallow ballast keel. So bad, that the only way to get it out was to cut the side of the keel away. Huge amount of descaling, nearly finished, to be followed by lots of epoxy.
Hope yours is a lot better

Pondering if it’s viable choice to buy?

 

[LittleSister]

If you do a Google search 'YBW Dufour 1800' there's a host of previous threads about them.

Probably most asking the same question as you, but there's likely some useful info in them if you trawl through.