Date: 3/21/2011
Name: Bill Davis
email: whdavis@baptistcollege.edu

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subject: Keel mechanism problems

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I've now joined the SJ 21 keel problem club. On Saturday, in motoring in from a day's sail, with the keel in the upright position, something turned loose, and the keel fell to the down position with a jolt. The eye slpice was still intact, so I don't know what happened. A bolt broke maybe? The roller mechanism also looked good. The jar did bent the keel pivot bolt. And crushed some of the fiberglass in the keel trunk.

So here are my questions: 1. What does the end of the cable connect to? Is there a pic of that mechanism on line, with the cable attached? 2. What can I do to replace the pivot bolt, without the keel moving from its plac? I'm afraid when I remove the bolt, it will drop, and be a royal pain getting back into place. 3. Do I need to do anything to repair the crushed fiberglass on the keel trunk? (I can send pics if they will help.)

BTW, we got the keel up enough by tying 2 lines onto the keel, and winching up using the spinnaker winches. That got us into shallow enough water where we could ease her up onto the trailer. Thankful for several fellow sailors who helped me.

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