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 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 Catalina 25 Specific Forum
 Keel Winch Forces		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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Boomeroo
Navigator

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Australia
129 Posts
Initially Posted - 12/21/2018 :  05:38:26  Show Profile
I note the Keel winch guide states a 45 Lb loading as max onto the handle which is about 1 ft long . ie 45 ft lb torque should lift the keel . I note the new Ryobi brushless drill has an output of 62 ft lb.
So has anyone used a Battery drill to wind up the winch . Maybe this is the 1st drill with the capacity. Brushless Drills relatively new .Keel raising is important.

I leave my keel down then as I enter shallow water I lift it up 10 turns then continue in until nearly aground then raise it fully . No chances ever taken of the keel dropping fully down uncontrolled .
Yes if it did let go no damage just hard to get off mainly mud .
Any experience appreciated .
Graeme Bishop boomeroo Australia
C25 SK

Lee Panza
Captain

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USA
465 Posts
Response Posted - 12/21/2018 :  10:03:16  Show Profile  Visit Lee Panza's Homepage
Here are a couple of thoughts, Graeme.

First, 45 lbf-ft of torque being held only about 6" from the axis of rotation means your wrist is subject to something on the order of 90 lbs.

More importantly, I like to be able to feel when the keel reaches the end of its travel and to be able to stop immediately so as to avoid the extra load on the cable and connection hardware. I think cranking by hand would be a little more sensitive than mechanical cranking.

Although, if you didn't get your finger off the trigger quite fast enough when the keel suddenly stops, your wrist could be subject to the full max. torque of the drill, about 124 lbf-ft. One would be especially careful to avoid having it happen again.
The trouble with a destination - any destination, really - is that it interrupts The Journey.

Lee Panza
SR/SK #2134
San Francisco Bay
(Brisbane, CA)
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Lee Panza
Captain

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USA
465 Posts
Response Posted - 12/21/2018 :  10:10:08  Show Profile  Visit Lee Panza's Homepage
BTW, I hope you're changing that cable and connection on a regular basis. The frequency I think I've most often heard recommended is at least every other year. The connection and cable are continuously immersed in salt water, so they are subject to corrosion. As you said, keel raising is important. The swing keel offers advantages over fixed keels, which can be important to some of us, but it does REQUIRE additional maintenance.
The trouble with a destination - any destination, really - is that it interrupts The Journey.

Lee Panza
SR/SK #2134
San Francisco Bay
(Brisbane, CA)
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Boomeroo
Navigator

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Australia
129 Posts
Response Posted - 12/22/2018 :  02:22:40  Show Profile
Lee you make a very good point regarding the torque on the drill with only a6 in lever would be high . I would need to brace the drill to use it . soft starting speed control would be needed and never use it to fully lift the keel. I uîse a slightly higher size cable ,and only fully lift the keel a few times a year but often raise it part way to get into my jetty.
I am paranoid about cable maintenance and check it annually and have changed the cable about 3 yearly.
Sorry somehow the 1st message went twice ??
Graeme Bishop boomeroo Australia
C25 SK
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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4299 Posts
Response Posted - 12/22/2018 :  14:50:52  Show Profile
Has anyone ever tried using a DC powered winch similar to what would be mounted on a 4 wheeler or even a boat trailer?

Association Member

GaryB
Andiamo
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX
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capted
1st Mate

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39 Posts
Response Posted - 12/24/2018 :  08:18:45  Show Profile
You definitely need to worry about stressing the cable when the keel comes up against the hull. Many years ago my overenthusiastic teenage son cranked the keel up and pulled the cable out of the fitting. A catastrophic keel drop resulted. Ever since then I have carefully cranked the keel up, and used a dot of paint on the cable to see when I am approaching the hull. Maybe overkill, but the repairs were expensive.

Ed
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Lee Panza
Captain

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USA
465 Posts
Response Posted - 12/24/2018 :  19:02:53  Show Profile  Visit Lee Panza's Homepage
Thanks for confirming my fears, Ed.

I sometimes think I'm overly cautious, but whenever the results can be as serious as in this case I've always felt it's prudent to be exceptionally careful. It seemed to me that a device with sufficient mechanical advantage to manually raise one end of a 1,500 pound slab of cast iron could do serious harm.

Just another thing to warn new owners of swingers, in addition to the need to replace the lifting apparatus on a regular basis.
The trouble with a destination - any destination, really - is that it interrupts The Journey.

Lee Panza
SR/SK #2134
San Francisco Bay
(Brisbane, CA)
Edited by - Lee Panza on 12/24/2018 19:03:50
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Erik Cornelison
Navigator

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USA
194 Posts
Response Posted - 12/31/2018 :  18:44:08  Show Profile
The dot of paint on the winch cable is a is a good idea to see when the keel is almost to the top.

I’m going to dot my cable as I’m not the only one cranking the keel winch.
Erik Cornelison
6th Generation Professional Sailor, First Gen Submarine Sailor.
1986 Standard Rig SW. #5234
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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.