Help Gib'Sea Lifting Keel stuck up !!

[poggy]

Help Gib\'Sea Lifting Keel stuck up !!

Hi,

Just bought a Gib'Sea 76 lifting keel from Wales. When I had it surveyed the surveyor pointed out that the keel was stuck down as it appeared the rope had jumped of the roller. It was replaced by a rigger and bought down to Moody's and dropped in the water. I took it out today for a sail and let the jammer of for the keel rope and nothing happened.

Does anybody know exactly how this works and if having a semi tidal mud mooring is likely to jam the lifting keel due to the mud, gravel etc. Having paid to have it lifted out and transported here and lifted back in, I am not to keen to have it lifted out until I am sure of how to fix it.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

Thanks

Poggy

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[tony_brighton]

Re: Help Gib\'Sea Lifting Keel stuck up !!

If its the same as my old Gibsea 77 - there is a steel pivot pin at the fwd end of the plate within the stub. The lifting rope goes to the back end of the plate. Frequently there isn't enough weight in the plate to overcome crap etc. jammed between the plate and the stub - semi-tidal mooring will likely jam it. Try poking it with a rod and see if it drops.

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[poggy]

Re: Help Gib\'Sea Lifting Keel stuck up !!

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

When you say poke it with a rod, how do you do that while afloat. On mine the lifting keel sits in a stub keel under the hull with no access from above. The rope comes up through the compression post for the mast and then over a small roller where it is bought back to the cockpit to a jammer and winch.

Is there any way to make a rig to pull it down.

Thanks again for your help.


Poggy

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[JamesS]

Re: Help Gib\'Sea Lifting Keel stuck up !!

We had a Gibsea 77 with a lifting keel and it did stick in the up position after settling in the mud.

The only option was to make a hole in the keel case from inside the boat (seal the hole with a bouyancy tank plug) and flush out thoroughly with a hose.

Good luck

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[tony_brighton]

Re: Help Gib\'Sea Lifting Keel stuck up !!

sounds like you have a slightly different arrangement - the uphaul on the 77 came through its own moulded tube to the saloon table - just possible to poke a 5-10mm rod down the uphaul hole.

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[snowleopard]

Re: Help Gib\'Sea Lifting Keel stuck up !!

had a lot of that sort of trouble- i used to own 3 swing-keel sonatas. two things cured the problem: a knot and plastic ball prevented crew from cranking it up too tight but in particular i needed to take the swing section out and clean up the slot every couple of seasons to prevent rust and marine growth jamming up the works.

getting the keel out from under was quite fun, especially without a crane!

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[poggy]

Re: Help Gib\'Sea Lifting Keel stuck up !!

Hi,

Thanks to everybody for there help, it is appreciated. I like the idea of drilling a hole for access with a tank plug. Have you any more details on the type of plug and how you did it. I plan to get the boat lifted (again) to examine the keel assembly and rope. It would be the ideal time to drill through a put a plug in.

Thanks again.

Poggy

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[charles_reed]

Re: Help Gib\'Sea Lifting Keel stuck up !!

I'd like to correct the description - your boat has a swing not a lifting keel and swining keels/centreboards are notorious.

For that reason I'v always stuck to a real lift keel boat such as the Parkers and Seals before them. (Though their systems are not entirely trouble-free, they're considerably better than a swing-system)

The only way to be certain clear the problem is to have the boat out and to take out the axis and clean every thing up.

Most swing keels need to be cleared every 3rd year - if it just gets stuck because of mud from grounding back-flushing will sometimes clear it.

When you do clear it, and unless you're on a drying mooring, I'd leave it down.

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[poggy]

Re: Help Gib\'Sea Lifting Keel stuck up !!

Your right, except in my case there is a distinct lack of any swinging going on. The boat was only put in the water on Wednesday after having a full jetwash. A week earlier a surveyor said the rope was jamming in a roller and that is was stuck down, although you could easily lift it up manually on it's pivot (it was in slings on a crane). It was subsequently repaired by a local company, so I am thinking it must be the rope jamming up now having not been fixed properly rather than the soft mud it was sat on. We went out and hit a number of large waves which would have knocked the mud out if that had been the cause. Any idea how it works, I can only think there is a wire joining the rope to the keel and this goes straight up to a roller at the base of the mast. This roller seems to move freely, I take it there is no pulley in the stub keel itself.

Thanks for your help.

Poggy



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[snowleopard]

Re: Help Gib\'Sea Lifting Keel stuck up !!

with my sonatas i made a special tool to get round the problem. it consisted of a length of 2x4 with a padded block fixed about 2ft from one end to act as a pivot.

i was able to slide it under the boat so the end went between the tip of the swing keel and the hull. by pulling on a rope attached to the outer end of the timber the leverage pushed the keel a couple of inches out of its slot and let it drop.

i found this much more congenial than diving under the boat in dartmouth harbour.

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[Trevor_swfyc]

Re: Help Gib\'Sea Lifting Keel stuck up !!

I wonder if the keel has been lifted to high and the wire instead of the rope which is a thinner gauge has slipped down the side of the pulley wheel.

The only other thing I have seen is a stone which has been forced up into the slot and jammed solid as you have said fresh mud should not jam it.

Let us know how you get on, good luck.
Trevor

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[GilesC]

Re: Help Gib\'Sea Lifting Keel stuck up !!

I can't help, but I know some people who may - www.gibsea.org.uk, a small association fo Gibsea owners I recently joined. I know there are a few Gibsea 76's amongst tis members, some of which I think are moored in the Bristol Channel (so similar conditions to you). Why not contact them - I've found the guys who run it very practical and helpful.

(Gibsea 28 fin owner)

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[JamesS]

Re: Help Gib\'Sea Lifting Keel stuck up !!

On the 77 I made the hole in the large (4x4) square tube that carried the lifting rope to the keel. In any case make sure the hole is well above the waterline.

I made a hole approx one inch in diameter, you need the simple drain plug that screws in to make a water tight seal. Look at any dindgy chandler, there are plenty to choose from, they are generally used on bouyancy tanks etc.

Make sure the hole is big enough to take a hose pipe and if you're lucky a length of steel rod to push the plate down.

Cheers

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