SO32 swing keel concern

[robbadgie]

Hello, I've read the thread on removal of a swing keel on a SO32. I have a concern that mine was not refitted correctly before I bought her (used) a year ago.

When my keel is fully lifted it still protrudes (around 8") below the ballast (the two bilge type keels). The schematic on the "Sun Odyssey 32 Swing Keel Removal" page and photographs I've seen of similar boats suggest it should raise to be hidden fully between the two bilge type keels.

Could another owner confirm whether or not this is correct? And if it should fit fully inside, do you have any idea what could have been done wrong so I can fix it?

Thank you!

[mikebz]

Yes it should be clear of the ground when the boat is sat on the bilge keels.  The leading edge should be approximately parallel with the ground.

When you say it is 'fully lifted' what do you mean? Is that just as far as you can pull it with the rope or is there a physical restriction you can see?
  If it's just as far as you can lift it with the rope, but it looks as though it should go further, then it could just be that the rope is binding/twisted - as Jeanneau rig it it is very poor and difficult to get the keel all the way up, there is a thread on this here:  jeanneau.proboards.com/thread/2740/lifting-keel-problems

I re-rigged mine as per Troubadour's instructions in that thread, with a slightly thinner/softer rope than the original, and it made a huge difference.

[robbadgie]

Thanks very much for your answer. I've read through the thread and I will check this weekend. When my boat was up on low blocks last winter the lower corner of the keel was buried in the dirt and I could not lift it. I assume it was jammed at that point but its possible it was just too heavy for me to pull out of the mud.

[mikebz]

Let us know what you find.  My bet is that the rope tackle is binding up and stopping you from lifting it any further.   I guess a good test would be to lower it all the way, and then pull it up and see if you come up a against a hard stop ('clonk') or whether it just gets harder and harder until you can no longer move it.

[robbadgie]

Will do thanks. Do you still have the photos from your previous thread? They're showing "photos not found".

[mikebz]

Hmm, looks like my Photobucket account has died.  I'm sure I've got them somewhere - I'll see if I can find them and rehost them tomorrow. 

[robbadgie]

Thanks. Here is a photo of mine today when lifted as far as I could. I didn't hear any clunk and I'm not sure if this looks fully lifted to you and, if not, what's stopping it lifting more. 


www.23hq.com/robbadgie/photo/47660739

[robbadgie]

www.23hq.com/robbadgie/photo/47660739/original

[mikebz]

That's interesting. Comparing your pics with mine and Troubadour's it appears that the block on the strop is coming up to about the same position (as when we have our keels fully raised).  So either your keel has a longer strop or something else is amiss which we can't see.

I've re-hosted and re-posted my pics in the other thread.

This is what mine looked like before I re-rigged it:




You can see how the rope which is right in the foreground is binding over another part of the tackle.  What isn't so clear is that there is a long splice on that part which also makes it very stiff & fat.

This is what it looked like after I rerigged it to Troubadour's specification, using a thinner more fllexible rope (made off with a bowline instead of a splice):

[mikebz]

PS I suspect that an inch or so of height on the travelling block (top of the strop) makes a lot of difference to the position of the tip of the keel.

[robbadgie]

Thx vm. I will explore more next weekend.

[robbadgie]

Hi, after a long delay .... I've realised the problem is the length of the cord joining the top of the keel and the bottom of the pullies. I believe this called the pennant or maybe the strop. Its too long - keel isn't fully lifted when the pullies nearly touch - so I have to make a short one.

It looks like the current one is made from hollow braid rope - is this the right material? Replacing this like for like would be easy as the splicing at both ends should be simple. Or is there something different I should be doing? If I make it too short will the keel not fully go down? Its on a stand now so I cant test the full range of movement.

Thx in advance for any thoughts

[mikebz]

The strop takes a lot of load, I would have thought that it was wire but I don't actually know.  It looks to me as though if you make it too short then the keel will not go all the way down - see the diagram here: www.jeanneau-owners.com/hintsandtips/SO32liftkeel.html