Rick, Thanks for the keel info. We are trying to figure out if the keel will drop straight out in the raised orientation (leading edge parallel to the ground) or if it must be in the lowered position. If it can be lowered in the raised orientation, then we can lower the boat onto the table, drive out the pivot pin (good idea about having the stop pin already out, we'll do that) lower the pendant as we raise the boat and bingo bango its out. Our stumbling block is that if the keel trunk cavity exactly mimics the curved shape of the keel it is possible the trailing edge will hang up if we try to remove it in the raised orientation (does that make any sense????) I'm sure we can remove it in the lowered orientation but that makes bracing it up more difficult as the keel will have to sit on the the pointed bottom (rather than sit flat on the leading edge like it would if we can lower it in the raised orientation). Our solution??? Well, unless we get a definite "yes you can remove it in the raised orientation" from someone who has done it, we'll have to make sure we have a way to brace it in the lower orientation setup and ready to go. I have read the above and changed it three times to try to explain what the heck I'm talking about. Does it make any sense to ya? Sounds kind of confusing to me!!! Hopefully you see what I'm getting at. Anyways, gotta work tomorrow. Since starting the bottom job going back on duty is like going on vacation for 24 hours! So I'll have 24 hours to try to think up a better hairbraned idea of how to make this work. Thanks for the measurements and the ideas. Much appreciated Yours for better, injury free, cost effective, least amount of work possible, keel removal systems. (also known as "why don't you pay a professional to do that?") Sean