Lifting keel problems

[lammergeier]

I have a recently purchased 1983 Beneteau First 25 with lifting keel, newly moored on a drying mud mooring. The worm drive manual lifting mechanism has developed a strained grinding noise after maybe 5 outings and increased difficulty in raising the keel. Cradle inspection with partially lowered keel doesn't show anything in particular. An old french article about the design mentions regular servicing of the mechanism being necessary. Does anyone have experience related to this? Advice would be much appreciated.

 

[davidwf]

I suspect its smilar to my 21.7 (210, 2111) lift keel mechanisim. If you lower the keel all the way and keep winding a couple of extra turns the screw will be exposed. I dribble some oil down the thread every now anad again. Have a look at first 210 keel which explains how to overhaul them.

 

[kds]

I have had problems with successive drying out tides which forced more and more mud into the keelbox, that the mechanism had to work very hard to force keel down.
ken

 

[Jonathanpaul]

I have a First 26 with lifting keel. I do get a little grinding when its lifted but I think its muck on the worm. What I do is unscrew the housing around the winder on the table and wind out the worm. It will come up into the cabin then you can marine grease the worm also at the top. My boat never drys out unless I am go shallow so not used much. But seems to be fine for the once a year grease up I do when on the land. I think you could do this when its stitting on the mud. Hope this helps. Jonathan