Reply To: Keel issues: FAQ from old website
13th January 2009
I transported my H23 to the worlds in 2006. When I raised my keel, the support strap inside the keel housing got jammed between the keel and the bulkhead. There was absolutely no way we could drop it. Eventually young Frankie Stuyk, Dean Korver and I had to drill a hole through the keel. We then put a bolt through the keel and attached a chain. Frankie had to use the crane to lift the boat while we attached the chain to a fixed bollard on the shore. The keel eventually came free.
Word of advise here. When raising the keel ALWAYS open the enclosure on the bulkhead holding the keel. This is the removable fibre glass unit inside the cabin. When raising the keel, someone should always make sure that the strap is free whilst raising. Brian Cole’s suggestion is that the strap be replaced with a piece of chain the same length as the strap but thick enough not to be trapped.
Happy H23’ing
Rob le Roux