Section 16.
RETRACTABLE KEEL
OPERATION
All
WINDROSE
keel winches have cap a-
~ity
ratin~s
greater than the weight being
lifted. This makes the operation easy for
most anyone since the gear ratio is grea-
ter than needed.
Each
winch
has a "pressure
brake"
which means the winch can be turned in
either direction without you having to flip
levers (there are no manual levers). As
long as the weight of the keel is on the
winch, the winch handle will stop at any
point in either direction. The handle can
be removed when the keel is resting on
the trailer or when the keel is in the full
down position. To remove, continue wind-
ing counter-clockwise
and the handle will
unscrew. This operation
will be aided if
the handle threads are kept lubricated.
The keel cable is %" stainless steel and
has a capacity far greater than needed
for your keel. The %" size is used as an
extra margin of safety and if cared for
properly, and periodically
checked, it will
last many years of normal use.
CAUTION
Always crank the keel up
and down slowly. Never
force the crank handle
when operating
the re-
tractable keel. If the keel is
locked down and an at-
tempt is made to raise it,
the large capacity winch
can be made to create ex-
cess pressure which may
cause
damage
to
the
mounting assembly of the
winch, or the fiberglass to
which
the
winch
is
mounted. It is unlikely the
keel trunk housing could
be damaged due to the
thickness of all Windrose
keel trunks.
When
locking the keel down lower the
keel until it stops then raise it one turn of
the winch handle and remove the keel
lockdown bolt. It is located in the forward
end of the keel trunk and is Y2" size with
two black %" thick washers.
(A wrench
should not be used on this bolt, "finger
tight" is usually adaquate and this allows
18
anyone
to quickly
remove
the
bolt
whenever the keel is to be raised). Lower
the keel one turn of the winch handle
then hold the lockdown bolt in one side ot
the keel trunk while
lowering
the keel
slowly and the bolt will slip through when
the hole in the keel lines up with the keel
trunk
housing
holes.
Turn
the handle
once or twice counter-clockwise,
and that
should
eliminate
humming
in the keel
cable
while
underway
by making
the
cable slack so no harmonic sounds can
be made. It is like a violin string; if tight, a
sound can be made, if loose, it is quiet.
WARNING
Do not put your finger in
the keel lockdown
bolt
hole as a loss of your
finger may result.
After
a
day's
sailing,
remove
the
Jockdown bolt
then
crank the keel up
slowly. At the first feel or sound of resis-
tance to the cranking action, stop crank-
ing immediately.
Never force the handle
beyond normal pressure.
You'll face speciaJ problems if you decide
to keep your boat in the water, especially
salt water. Bottom paint is a must, plus
periodic cleaning and removal of marine
growth from the keel trunk slot. The pos-
sibility of corrosion
to the keel and keel
fittings is greatly increased. Bottom paint
will also protect the gel coat surface from
blistering,
which
occasionally
occurs
when gel coat is submerged
for an ex-
tended period of time.
Note:
Blisters
resulting
from leaving
the boat in the water for an ex-
tended time are not covered by
warranty. Professionally
applied
vinyl based
anti fouling bottom
paint
is
recommended.
Should you decide to keep your boat in
the water at a slip or mooring, the follow-
ing suggestions
may help to extend the
life of the keel assembly.
First of all, the
keel pivot pin is made of stainless steel,
and the keel itself is made of cast iron. To
retard electrolytic action, which will "eat"
away the metals, drill and tap the side of
the keel (near the forward edge) as close
to the keel pivot assembly
as possible.
Then attach a zinc fitting.
Keeping
the
