Tom, Has anyone mentioned that the CB may be stuck on the halyard knot? If you recover the boat with the CB down, the trailer will push the CB up and the knot will wedge between the CB and housing. I have had it remain stuck even when I launched again. Try raising the boat on the trailer so the CB has about an inch of free play, then tug on the halyard and see if the CB drops. If you have a trailrite trailer, you can place supports under the forward part of the keel and lower the tongue to get a little space under the CB. Loading and launching the boat with the CB free can be a big deal on a Trailrite. If the CB is not secured when you launch, the CB will drop and hook on the trailer frame, leaving you wondering why you can not get the boat off the trailer. If the CB is not securely raised when you recover the boat, it can get stuck on the knot or drop and cause problems if you have to reposition the boat on the trailer. I have found that some sort of trailer guides or posts that help position the boat on the trailer are essential. Securing the CB is first on my checklist for launch and recovery, and I always remove the rudder. Hope this helps. Bob Becker M15 #208 1982 On Nov 2, 2005, at 7:43 AM, thauser@att.net wrote:
Hello, Folks:
I don't know if my emails are getting to the interested parties. I recently purchased Kestrel, an M-15 #145 (circa 1981), in Monterey, CA. and brought her to Park City, UT. She has spent all her life in salt water and has been dry-docked for the past 5 years. Anyway, the keel won't drop. We sail in fresh water and I was hoping one or two days would flush the cavity out. I have tried pressure spray, WD-40, and selected nautical language, but it won't budge. It could be "cemented" into the cavity by the salt water and the pressue from sitting on the trailer roller for 5 years.
Can't find a sailboat repair shop locally to raise her up and off the trailer. If I can jack the boat a couple of inches off the trailer, I may be able to run a small cable up and over the top of the keel from underneath. I have looked at the photos on the Monty website.
I can't find out if the keel is fiberglass filled with lead shot or if it is some other material. I can see the pivot where the pin was once removed and replaced, then the hole was patched over.
Any suggestions would be appreciated, especially some way to free it without removing it completely from the keel cavity.
Thank you all.
Tom Hauser thauser@utah.gov or thauser@att.net _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats