Someone up there looking after me.

[graham]

Went aboard the boat lunchtime today with my 8 year old.

To give him something to do whilst I lowered the lifting keel I set him the task of coiling up the end of the roller furling line which was loose.

I fitted the handle to the keel winch then BANG something in the winch broke the handle span round like a plane propellor before flying off .It sailed straight through the main companionway hatch and over the stern .A split second later the keel crashed fully down.

Stunned I dived out the hatch dreading what I would find.My son was happily knelt on the cockpit seat coiling up the end of the rope unaware that a 3 lb steel handle had just passed him at 500 mph.

This is the first time I have given him a job straight away,normally he sits in the companion way watching me or pretending to use the VHF.

In his mind the huge hug I gave him must have seemed way out of proportion just for tidying up a bit of rope.

Stripped it down and found the tip off the ratchet pawl broken off.Hopefully make a new one tommorow or my favourite drying out destinations are not available to us next week.I removed some keel case panelling and remarkably there is no apparent damage .

A 900lb weight dropping 2 foot 6 can give a powerfull blow!

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[boatless]

Very lucky, thank goodness.

You might want to change your bio. 'Drop Keel' to lifting keel perhaps?

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[graham]

Yes your right ,perhaps "Gently lifting and Lowering "would do .

I have just been on the USA makers website and surprisingly the winch is still in production.They even have a downloadable owners manual which I have got the part numbers from.

I had such a shock today that If I can get one in the UK I will be getting a brand new replacement. If you knew me you would know this is a major event for me as normally everything gets repaired several times before heading for the bin!

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[claymore]

Lucky Indeed. We used to have a Gem Micro 18 which we trailer sailed. I once launched it on Windermere one March day and went below to lower the keel which had a pin through it to take the strain off the pulley system. I lifted the keel the fraction need to get the pin out and then all hell broke loose as the wire parted and the keel dropped in rather stylish fashion displacing about 10 gallons of icy cold water into my lap. I'd only gone up to launch her and stick her on a mooring so hadn't bothered with a change of clothes. Dear Heart was also wet through but that was more to do with her finding my predicament rather amusing.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple>regards
Claymore<font color=purple>
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[GeorgeP]

Glad your son was OK.

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[graham]

Thanks for the kind thoughts.

Thanks for the replies .I have repaired it for temporary use until I can source a new replacement.

Best Regards Graham

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