So would this also work OK with an M-17 Jerry? Using some other lifting device like a jack on the keel line probably, but regardless of eight buddies or a jack or a hoist... And probably something thicker than 2x lumber. I assume the beams would be placed so the boat would sit on the flats fore and aft of the keel itself, yes? I thought of an alternative idea, which is to stack some pieces of 2x6 on top of the bunk boards, aligned with them, at fore & aft ends. Basically putting temporary spacers on top of the bunk boards to hold the boat up higher. Lift fore, place boards, lift aft, place boards, then repeat if more lift needed. I'd use 1 1/2 to 2 ft lengths so load is not concentrated on one spot on the hull anywhere. Reasonable? Crazy? Anyone try this before? I need a DIY way to raise the boat enough on the trailer to get the CB down so I can inspect the shackle & pennant, and R&R if/as necessary. The CB does not go all the way up into the keel. I can see that the pennant knot jams up against the underside of the hole in the trunk, with the CB still sticking down a bit. I imagine a longer than necessary shackle, and/or a fatter than necessary knot (my pennant is quite thick line). Plus I have no idea what the condition of the shackle is, so want to d a "safety inspection." I have seen some various other approaches, like digging a hole under the keel, sliding the boat aft on the trailer, some of both...none are an option in my particular storage situation. thanks, John S. On 08/01/2018 12:28 PM, jerry@jerrymontgomery.org wrote:
Doug- get about four buddies and some beer, lift up the front of the boat enough to stick a 2X6 across the front of the bunks. lash it in p[lace, and do it to the back. Be sure and lash the 2X6's in place to avoid surprises. You might need a 1/2" rod down thru the drain holes to get the board started. Some dishwater soap might help. Or not.
-----Original Message----- From: doug Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2018 12:24 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: Re: M_Boats: Drop keel stuck
This is probably the answer. A lot of tree junk has fallen into the cockpit and I washed it down that drain hole. Didn’t realize it could jam the keel. Now to unjam it. You are right, the 90 degree angle to get into that hole the junk washed down, and the keel rope goes through is a tough one. How about a pressure washer hose going into the 1/2” hole. Maybe that could force the junk loose. Trouble is I won’t know if its loose or not unless/until the boat is in the water again. Guess I have to build my own lake.
On Aug 1, 2018, at 12:01 PM, Douglas Kelch <doug1kelch@gmail.com> wrote:
The cockpit drains through the same hole the CB Line goes through an it is about 1/2, maybe a little smaller wide. Debris from the cockpit can wash down the hole and can jamb the board. Small floating things like acorns, twigs, loose screws, and clevis rings will be trapped between the CB and the wall. Trailering it will fix it in place. If the debris continues down when the board is lowered and it floats it can jamb the board when raised.
In order to free up the board without raising the boat there is a progression of steps you can try from the cockpit. There is a small wooden splash guard over the cockpit drain hole. if you remove the screws (4 of them, 2 covered by teak bungs) holding this in place you may be able to push the board down with a 3/8" pvc rod. If I recall there is not much leverage as the space under the bridge deck board is limited. You can make a sectioned pvc pipe with bungee chord like a tent pole sections and get the push rod more vertical. You need enough space between the bridge deck board and the pvc to slide in a board that you can step on to get some pressure.
I did not make the tool I described above and ended up drilling a 3/4 in hole in the bridge deck board behind the CB line. Not the best solution but I could hold a 2"x4" on top of the rod while I sat on it and bounced lightly. This worked almost every time.
The one time it did not work the problem was caused by excessive heeling in a debris filled lake (flash flooding in the creeks filled the lake with #@$#$%). A piece of debris got into the the CB well when excessively heeled and would not let me raise the board. IT WAS STUCK DOWN. The only way I could get the boat out of the water without hiring a long fork lift was to just Jamb the board up as it went on the trailer. Cost $$ to that one unstuck.
Love the M15, Cruised mine extensively for 18 years.
Thanks
Doug Kelch
On Wed, Aug 1, 2018 at 11:03 AM, doug <doug9326@gmail.com <mailto:doug9326@gmail.com>> wrote:
Up until now, the drop keel has worked fine. Not sure why it would change. Didn’t run aground! Didn’t have it drop onto the trailer either. But it has to be fixed soon since it great sailing weather. I still sailed Sunday without the drop keel and the boat did great in 10kts.
On Aug 1, 2018, at 11:01 AM, doug <doug9326@gmail.com> wrote:
Oh yea. Its a 1980 M-15.
On Aug 1, 2018, at 10:52 AM, Bob Eeg <montgomeryboats@hotmail.com <mailto:montgomeryboats@hotmail.com <mailto:montgomeryboats@hotmail.com>>> wrote:
What model and what year Montgomery.
Bob
Sent from my iPad
On Aug 1, 2018, at 10:47 AM, doug <doug9326@gmail.com <mailto:doug9326@gmail.com> <mailto: doug9326@gmail.com>> wrote:
Went sailing on a perfect day Sunday. Until I tried to drop the keel/daggerboard/centerboard/??? and it did not go down. Just stayed in the retracted position. So other than just crawling under the boat on the trailer and fiddling with that thing, are there other thoughts/ideas/solutions?
And if I want to raise the boat some from the trailer to get more room to work and for the board to drop down some, is there a right and wrong way to do that. I was going to use a jack under the forward end of the shoal draft keel and jack up the boat maybe 8 inches that way. Can that shoal draft keel support some weight like that?
Sure is nice to have a forum like this for newbies like me. Thanks
-- John Schinnerer - M.A., Whole Systems Design -------------------------------------------- - Eco-Living - Whole Systems Design Services People - Place - Learning - Integration john@eco-living.net - 510.982.1334 http://eco-living.net http://sociocracyconsulting.com