Keel to Skeg Line

[ean_p]

Toying with the idea of spanning the gap between keel and skeg with a line to prevent getting 'hooked up' on a pot line or similar....... have a stripper fitted but this wouldn't prevent a hook up....!.....is it a worth while exercise?....if so should the line be rope (so if it should fail in any way then the stripper could deal with it ), or should it be stainless so that it can be well tensioned and ensure that we ride over the line etc....?

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[gunnarsilins]

I did ask the same question here, or on Scuttlebut about a year ago, but did not get any real informative replies.
But, since I´ll be away cruising for 18 months, very much in areas with a lot of pots, nets and other potential hazards I´ve decided to close the gap with an wire.

I was thinking of using a stainless steel wire, tensioned by either a small bottle screw, or by drilling a threaded hole in the bronze shoe on the full length skeg.
I think the wire would be better, it can be antifouled, it will probably do a better job in deflecting and allowing the boat to ride over heavier nets.
Do you relly see any real risk in that the wire will snap and entangle the propeller? In such case a rope would of course be better.



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[maxi]

A wire will do it - put a decent anode on it and if it should fail, although I don't see why it should, the anode will take it away from the prop, as well as protecting the fittings.

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[jsl]

On my Nic35 I have a stainless bar from keel to skeg. It has been there for 20+ years. It has just once allowed a rope to slide along it and catch between skeg and rudder heel: there should really be a little plate to cover the slot. And it did once cause a problem when a mooring pickup buoy caught inside it. I have, however, watched it in action, deflecting ropes - and who knows how many times it has worked when I have been unaware?

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[Evadne]

I sometimes wonder if the increase in the number of yachts catching ropes around their rudders is not in part linked to the demise of the long-keeled hull form. This protects the rudder in the same manner.
You may be interested in my new product, "Fill-A-Gap", which consists of a hand-crafted grp insert to fit between the keel and skeg of most modern yacht designs. Apart from giving you bomb-proof heavy weather performance and improved directional stability it is guaranteed to deflect ropes, take 1.5 knots off your boat speed and completely bugger up your performance under power in reverse gear. Your money back if not completely satisfied.

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[Aeolus_IV]

My first thought was "how do you hoist the boat out?" as you will have closed off one of the areas where the strop would need to be placed. Obviously other people have done this and have ways round this, so how do you d this then?

Regards, Jeff.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://users.swing.be/FDB/centurion/index2.html>Centurion 32 Web site</A>

 

[graham]

Dave ,is this made by the same company that makes the "Classic deck conversion kit" The kit comprises of a drill to introduce leaks into your GRP deck and plastic sheeting to pin up under the deck to divert the water away from your bunk?????

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[graham]

I would imagine you need to push a heaving line through the gap with a long boathook or something ,and pull one end of the lifting strop through before lifting.

If the boatyard staff didnt know about it A disaster could occur when the keel to skeg line suddenly parted under the weight.

 

[steve28]

I have a wire between the keel and rudder on my boat, i use a boat hook and a small fender to put a rope through for the crane slings.

It has worked very well for 8 years

steve

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