Re: Keel Lock-down Bolt Hole Repair
Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 5:39 am
It sounds like you did the best that could be done with this kind of repair, and that your repair should be strong.
As far as the keel cable breaking again, I'd be surprised if you had to worry about that happening any time soon. How long ago did you say that the cable broke on you? Do you routinely sail in shallow water, where there is the possibility of hitting the bottom?
I just changed the keel cable on my V222 last spring; it was fraying, and had not been changed since sometime prior to 1978 or 1979. The original owner had to change it twice, because he kept hitting large rocks on the bottom of wherever it was that he used to sail. The keel would ride up, clear the rock, and then snap the cable as it fell again. But under my grandfather's ownership, my dad's ownership, and now my ownership, there have been no cable problems (aside from some fraying with age). My cable was 28+ years old when I changed it. I don't know that I would recommend letting a keel cable go so long without replacement, but it held under "normal" use.
At the very least, if ever Chiquita is caught in a knockdown again, and her lockdown bolt is in place, I feel confident that your repair will hold that keel where it belongs.
As far as the keel cable breaking again, I'd be surprised if you had to worry about that happening any time soon. How long ago did you say that the cable broke on you? Do you routinely sail in shallow water, where there is the possibility of hitting the bottom?
I just changed the keel cable on my V222 last spring; it was fraying, and had not been changed since sometime prior to 1978 or 1979. The original owner had to change it twice, because he kept hitting large rocks on the bottom of wherever it was that he used to sail. The keel would ride up, clear the rock, and then snap the cable as it fell again. But under my grandfather's ownership, my dad's ownership, and now my ownership, there have been no cable problems (aside from some fraying with age). My cable was 28+ years old when I changed it. I don't know that I would recommend letting a keel cable go so long without replacement, but it held under "normal" use.
At the very least, if ever Chiquita is caught in a knockdown again, and her lockdown bolt is in place, I feel confident that your repair will hold that keel where it belongs.