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Swing Keel Up or Down at Mooring?

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CateP
Navigator

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USA
108 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/11/2012 : 07:30:31

Hi Everybody,
Had our first shake-down sail yesterday on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. All went well except stalling Tohatsu motor. (have had more problems with that motor than I would like to say).

Anyway, I am at a mooring for the first time and am wondering whether I should bring the swing keel up after sailing or leave it down at the mooring. I think I have seen a discussion about this on the forum, but I couldn't find it in a search. Any advice out there?

"Mysterious" 1983 C25 SR/SK #3655
Lake Winnipesaukee, NH

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Ape-X
Admiral

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USA
662 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2012 : 08:15:03

don't have a swinger: But keel DOWN unless you are moored in an area that is too shallow, then I would guess to lift it only far enough to keep it off the bottom......

The point is to minimize potential energy in case of equipment failure.

Edited by - on

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2012 : 08:30:32

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I am at a mooring for the first time and am wondering whether I should bring the swing keel up after sailing or leave it down at the mooring. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Uh-OH.............................................

Good thing it's Monday morning...

You sure you don't have any questions about a tow vehicle or what type of anchor to use?...

I keep my keel up, but if it were to fall it would hit the sandy bottom at my dock. However, eight years in saltwater, no failures.

Edited by - on

BCG-Woodbury
Mainsheet Editor

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USA
396 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2012 : 09:26:23

CateP -

Most likely if you are on a mooring then the depth is deeper than 5 feet. Down would be my vote. I'm on a lake as well and will be leaving my C25 SK on a mooring too with the keel down.

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2012 : 09:32:50

Perhaps one of the worst, if not THE worst thing, that can happen to a swing keel boat is the catastrophic failure of the keel lifting mechanism while the keel is up. If the keel is up and it fails it can do some very serious damage to the hull - perhaps sink the boat. If it is down, it can't fall. Does that answer the question?

IMHO, the only time the keel should be up is when there is a specific reason to lift it. I.e., trailering or moving through very shallow water. Even when it's on the trailer, it should be lowered so that the weight is resting on the trailer and not suspended by the cable.

Edited by - John Russell on 06/11/2012 09:34:53

CateP
Navigator

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USA
108 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2012 : 09:35:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by John Russell
 Perhaps one of the worst, if not THE worst thing, that can happen to a swing keel boat is the catastrophic failure of the keel lifting mechanism while the keel is up. If the keel is up and it fails it can do some very serious damage to the hull - perhaps sink the boat. If it is down, it can't fall. Does that answer the question?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yes. Thank you John etal. As always, very helpful advice from you guys.

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Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2012 : 09:37:15

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">All went well except stalling Tohatsu motor.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
If your Tohatsu will not idle, and runs poorly at slow speeds, it almost certainly needs the low speed jet cleaned.

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sethp001
Mainsheet C-25 Tech Editor

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814 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2012 : 11:55:50

Down for the reasons already stated above.

In addition, keeping the keel down keeps all of the weight of the keel on the pivot pin and should reduce side-to-side motion of the keel along the pivot pin, which is important if your boat has not been retrofitted with the new hangers and spacers (or had washers installed). The side-to-side motion supposedly leads to pivot pin failure.

Also your boat should theoretically rock in a more sea-kindly fashion with the keel lower in the water.

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2012 : 17:39:39

All the above. The factory advice is up for corrosion issues, but down is safer. Keep up with SK maintenance, and the keel is easy to drill and tap for zincs (magnesium in freshwater). The nobility sequence, what will be sacrificed first, for the keel system: zincs, keel (pretty massive though), lifting assembly and SS fasteners, pivot assembly

Edited by - Dave5041 on 06/11/2012 17:48:16

Boomeroo
Navigator

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Australia
129 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2012 : 04:55:32

Hi, Im on a deep saltwater mooring close to my shallow water dock . Wind and sea mean I keep her on the mooring with the keel down
Keel down Is not preferred as mooring and keel load etc give a bow down position ,and gunk builds up on the cable Even an odd barnacle if not used for a month .
However they are minor problems .
Disaster would be the very unlikely but wow impact of a failure of any part of the lifting gear . The keel down also locks the keel from movement sideways which would add wear to the pivot pin . I Put a rag around the cable and then winch up 7 turns. Then head for dock and give it another 7 turns . 14 up is enough for my dock . That way the very unlikely failure cannot cause the disaster of a dropped keel . Total risk paranoid???? But happy sleeping with wind howling at 50 knots and 2 ft waves outside

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JeanAndre
Navigator

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USA
224 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2012 : 08:51:57

I keep my boat on a trailler on shore storage but I lower my keel to rest on the keel pad, so not to have her hanging on the cable, I keep my keel down when I am on the water as well for the reasons already seen above.

What I also do is I keep a spare set of the CD swing keel lift kit repair on board, so I can inspect my keel setup every year, replace what needs to be replaced and in case of faillure, I am ready to make the necessary repairs...

Cheers

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sethp001
Mainsheet C-25 Tech Editor

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814 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2012 : 13:57:07

Another thing I recently noticed is that the boat is heavy in the rear with the swing keel raised. On my boat, the boot stripe is in the water when the swing keel is up.

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2012 : 19:08:55

Wet stripe seems a little deep, but you could have heavier junk stored aft than I do. The keel up moves the center of mass of the 1500# keel several feet aft - a definite difference in how she sits.

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Sam001
Vice Commodore

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USA
441 Posts

Response Posted - 07/11/2012 : 19:50:00

down

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.