Mirador 20 lifting keel arrangement

[Richard1992]

Does anybody have any information or pictures of the lifting keel arrangement on Mirador 20's. I currently own one but the lifting mechanism is bulky and poorly designed so I am looking to upgrade to a better design. Any ideas gratefully received!

 

[ProDave]

I don't know your boat, but describe / show pictures of what you have. There are many of us with lifting keel boats with all sorts of different arangements and we might be able to suggest something.

 

[William_H]

There are lots of compromises in designing a lift keel boat. Some designs havea stub keel with balast in it witha plate which swings down for lateral resistance. The advantages are that the plate swings up if you hit something. Also you can if the stub kleel is big enough not encroach on cabin floor space.
A somewhat simlar design uses a steel plate that swings out of a cb box which dominates/divides longitudinally the floor space of the cabin but allows when the plate is up a very flat bottom for shallow draft and ease of puting on a trailer. Neither of these keel designs are very good at windward sailing because the plate is flat not foil shaped. In the latter case the balast must be under floor so is not as effective as the former.
The keel on my boat is a fat fibreglass foil with lead balast near the bottom of 100kg. It comes out of a slot in the hull just like a racing dinghy. So a very good foil and keel root shape so excellent windward performance. The CB /keel is lifted vertically by a tackle to a halyard winch from the top of the cabin. The CB case and supports to the roof consist of the mast compression post and another post 60cms aft. The case effectively goes up to the roof making passage to the front cabin a bit difficult taking up some cabin floor space but leaving a clear area near the entrance. My boat has 150kg or so of lead under the floor to supplement the keel mass. It is supposed to be self righting with keel up. It does meet YA requirements for stability testing for ocean racing. (just by pull down test).
This keel does have problems when you run aground inb that it kicks back and updamaging the fine trailing edge. I have solved this by fitting through bolt at the back of the case that stops the back of the CB kicking up. So when you run aground it is just like any other fin keeled boat. ie lean it over and pole off. I never lift the CB when accidentally run aground.
So ther are some background ideas for design.
If yours as some are a screw down mechanism for a swing plate then you might try a free fall tackle system.Perhaps ugmented bya stick to push it down. Sorry I don't know the specific boat. More detail? good luck olewill