My keel fell off any advice welcome

Scareyclott

Scareyclott

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I am looking for any advice or photos with regards to a Gib'Sea 76 swinging keel.

My one has fallen off, yes gone?

The uphaul rope snapped over the winter period and it has taken until now for the local boatyard to lift her for repair, on lifting they discovered that the swinging part of the keel and the pin on which it swung has gone.

The boat is kept on a lake (Windermere UK) and I have asked a diver if he could quote for spending a few hours looking under the mooring for it.

If this is unsuccessfull I have no idea where to get, if one exists a plan showing the shape, weight and materials used.

If anyone has any pictures, plans, spare keel or advice it would be much appreciated


Going sideways
Scott
 
Scareyclott said:
I am looking for any advice or photos with regards to a Gib'Sea 76 swinging keel.

My one has fallen off, yes gone?

The uphaul rope snapped over the winter period and it has taken until now for the local boatyard to lift her for repair, on lifting they discovered that the swinging part of the keel and the pin on which it swung has gone.

The boat is kept on a lake (Windermere UK) and I have asked a diver if he could quote for spending a few hours looking under the mooring for it.

If this is unsuccessfull I have no idea where to get, if one exists a plan showing the shape, weight and materials used.

If anyone has any pictures, plans, spare keel or advice it would be much appreciated


Going sideways
Scott
Click to expand...

If it was on a mooring it will be easy to find. The diver would attach a rope to the mooring block and work in circles outwards, ideally kicking up a bit of mud as he swims to uncover the keel. The keel couldn't be much further away than the length of your chain when taut assuming the keel was heavy. Lighter flat items will frisby off but heavy things not so much.
 
Scareyclott said:
I hope that is the case, I know it was very heavy, it had to be winched up each time
Click to expand...

If it was steel then a Sea Searcher magnet ought to be able to find it OK, though you may still need a diver to get it up. It shouldn't have come to any harm - iron boats and steam angines have lain under Windermere for decades without ill effect. It's all the peat in the water, I believe. Good luck!
 
what's the mass of the keel ? What's the depth of the water ? I am thinking that you might contact a local metal detectorist site, and see if anyone with a waterproof metal detector could spend a few minutes rowing round in a dinghy.

typically..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/fisher-me...naut-underwater-treasure-hunter-/161282351932


I think a Sea Searcher would need to be about 10cm away before it reacted. A detector - perhaps a couple of metres ?
 
Thanks they are both good ideas

Not sure on the mass but the water is fairly shallow may be 8 meters or less, I can see the bottom in the summer. I also think it is likely to be mainly slate rocks on the lake bed

Scott
 
I should imagine if it's an insurance claim then the insurance company may be pleased to save themselves some money.

I would think that if the dive club considered it they would be hard pressed to put a price on it up front though and may not be covered, H&S etc....

Perhaps to talk to both parties first may be the way forward?
 
Scareyclott said:
Do you think the insurance will pay for that :)
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Probably not as corrosion is likely to be the cause, but you can try. Not worth it just for recovery because that is likely to cost less than your policy excess.
Read your policy wording first and then speak to your insurer if you think it might be covered.
 
Sorry was just having a joke about them paying for the BBQ

In serious mode I have had a chat to my insurers and they have asked for a quote from the diver, he has quoted £75 / hr just waiting for it in writing

Corrosion has not caused the problem the pin has worked its way out as the result of the uphaul snapping so it is being classed as accidental damage

Scott
 
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Sounds like lack of maintenance to me?

Checking my uphaul (steel) rope, winch and rollers is part of my annual maintenance and very importantly the shackle that attaches it to the keel.

My biggest fear would be the uphaul rope snapping with the keel fully up. If the keel fell unarested from fully up, it would probably make a large hole in the bottom of the boat on it's way through.
 
ProDave said:
Sounds like lack of maintenance to me?.
Click to expand...

You sound like a safety man to me.

Every accident is preventable, the problem is predicting them and there causes. Most insurance companies must be aware that most accidents could be avoided by the insured.

Let's not encourage insurance companies to think that way.

PS thought this was going to bea good Bavaria baking thread :(.

Good luck in the search for your keel...
 
JumbleDuck said:
If it was steel then a Sea Searcher magnet ought to be able to find it OK, though you may still need a diver to get it up. It shouldn't have come to any harm - iron boats and steam angines have lain under Windermere for decades without ill effect. It's all the peat in the water, I believe. Good luck!
Click to expand...

It's cast iron so should be even easier to find - unless it's dug its way under the mud.
 
Tranona said:
Probably not as corrosion is likely to be the cause, but you can try. Not worth it just for recovery because that is likely to cost less than your policy excess.
Read your policy wording first and then speak to your insurer if you think it might be covered.
Click to expand...

My fear as well. It'll be turned down flat as due to careless lack of maintenance.
 
Scareyclott said:
Sorry was just having a joke about them paying for the BBQ

In serious mode I have had a chat to my insurers and they have asked for a quote from the diver, he has quoted £75 / hr just waiting for it in writing

Corrosion has not caused the problem the pin has worked its way out as the result of the uphaul snapping so it is being classed as accidental damage

Scott
Click to expand...

Glad they have viewed it that way.

The drop keel plate on my Jeanneau Tonic is a steel plate and I could just about carry it but it sounds lighter than yours. Hopefully if the keel can be found it should be retrievable using some strops and a rope to a winch over the bow roller. Good Luck.

BoatHstdDS_zpsfa943a94.jpg


Keel1Resized_zps848abe06.jpg
 
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>My biggest fear would be the uphaul rope snapping with the keel fully up. If the keel fell unarested from fully up, it would probably make a large hole in the bottom of the boat on it's way through.

In the Caribbean, if the owner was away for a while, we used to see boats with lifting keels with a rope tied round the keel on to the boat to stop the keel dropping. As you said it would make a large hole in the boat if dropped.
 
Well the Diver had bad news:( He searched for 2.5 hrs but didn't find my keel, it must have fallen off on its journey to the crane.

I am now looking for someone who makes keels, some plans or a boat that is out if the water that I could measure

Any useful help/ advice appriciated

Scott
 
that';s sad news.

The Gib Sea range were designed by
GROUPE GRAAL
CABINET D'ARCHITECTURE

Architecture Navale 4,
impasse Royer-Collard 75005 PARIS
Tél. : 06 87 66 01 25;
Fax : 01 40 46 80 20


Perhaps worth a call to see if they have the drawings ?
 
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