So I lost my keel last summer. too many financial commitments so I can't buy one this year. I thought I would take shot at making one myself. Has anyone done this? Any suggestions? dimensions would be helpful. A used keel would be good too.
regards,
bruce
MAc 26x Swing Keel build completed
MAc 26x Swing Keel build completed
Last edited by alllrite on Wed Jun 02, 2021 7:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Snowdancer
- Just Enlisted
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2017 6:52 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Re: MAc 26x Swing Keel build
Hi Bruce I tried repairing my Keel that was missing 18 inches off its bottom. FYI they are semi hollow to reduce transportation weight and allow its uhaul while being heavy enough to sink. My bad attempts at fiberglass repair eventually resulted in purchasing a new one. Contact
Re: MAc 26x Swing Keel build
I was successful in creating a keel that worked well last summer. cost was about <$500 canadian. I found a pattern for a foil and then built a mold using alluminum. It would have turned out nicer if I had gotten the alluminum molded. that would have taken too long. Turns out alluminum sheeting is difficult to shape into into a foil. It's not pretty. perhaps I will beautify it this summer.
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OverEasy
- Admiral
- Posts: 3027
- Joined: Mon Sep 28, 2020 11:16 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: NH & SC
Re: MAc 26x Swing Keel build completed
Hi 
I believe the foil shape that was used originally by MacGregor was a NAC 12 or 14 ….
“Inquisitor” recently made a new keel for his Mac26M which would be a similar foil shape as the Mac26X.
Did you lose the entire keel?
That makes making a replacement that much more of a challenge. As has been mentioned by Snowdancer the Mac26X keel was designed to water flood not only for transportation over the road weight but ergonomically so it can be hauled up (without needing to be Charles Atlas or the Incredible Hulk (yes I’m showing my antiquity with those references
).
I can’t put my finger on it right now but I believe that somewhere in the forum archives there was a project where the keel was fully disassembled and rebuilt for a Mac26X. I just can’t find it at the moment. There might be some dimensional information along with hole placement & size.
Given that this is still early in the season maybe someone on the forum is replacing their keel haul-up line and could possibly take some photos and dimensions to help with your making a new one.
There are considerable leveraged forces applied to the keel as you well know. It’s quite a project!
What you find out and how you get to a solution would be valuable to others now and in the future.
Please document and share what you find and decide to fabricate if you can. Keep us posted on your progress. Good luck!
I believe the foil shape that was used originally by MacGregor was a NAC 12 or 14 ….
“Inquisitor” recently made a new keel for his Mac26M which would be a similar foil shape as the Mac26X.
Did you lose the entire keel?
That makes making a replacement that much more of a challenge. As has been mentioned by Snowdancer the Mac26X keel was designed to water flood not only for transportation over the road weight but ergonomically so it can be hauled up (without needing to be Charles Atlas or the Incredible Hulk (yes I’m showing my antiquity with those references
).I can’t put my finger on it right now but I believe that somewhere in the forum archives there was a project where the keel was fully disassembled and rebuilt for a Mac26X. I just can’t find it at the moment. There might be some dimensional information along with hole placement & size.
Given that this is still early in the season maybe someone on the forum is replacing their keel haul-up line and could possibly take some photos and dimensions to help with your making a new one.
There are considerable leveraged forces applied to the keel as you well know. It’s quite a project!
What you find out and how you get to a solution would be valuable to others now and in the future.
Please document and share what you find and decide to fabricate if you can. Keep us posted on your progress. Good luck!
