Hi, We have recently purchased a Sportina 700 which has lived its life in fresh water, she is in fantastic condition and has had little use. Infomation on these is in short supply and i have a question regarding the lifting keel system.
The lifting mechanisum is really hard to winch to the point i am concerned with the tension on the rope. Can anyone offer any insight into these systems and if there is anything I can do without lifting her out the water. We do not have a trailer and she sits on a floating mooring in the UK.
If you have some more pictures would be nice, curious about the differences.
Concerning the lifting keel. Without getting it out completely there is not so much you can do. Can you get it all the way up so you can secure it with a metal bar, bearing it on the deck?
If so you could have a closer look. Inspect and redo the keel halyard and the steel thread or dyneema attached to the keel.
You could try and play with the lifting mechanism with the bar still in place the keel suspended. See if it responds as you would expect. Any signs of play between the keel head and the keel itself is reason to get it out and properly inspected.
This lifting keel is the most vulnerable and safety critical element of the boat. In salty waters / sea i would even more want to see with my own eyes that the keel connection to the keel head is in good shape and not rusty.
Thank you I can get it part way up before it gets really hard. I’m going to see if I can use a triple block attached once up. I’ll get some photos too. Maybe a couple of weeks before I go back to the mooring.
The keel is heavy. There is a big wheel which has the rope you pull, and then a small wheel with the steel/dynema which is connected to the Keel. The keel weighs in at 230 kilo’s (sorry I dont know howmany stones that is ) Pulling the wire is not easy, but it also should not be too hard either. But it does require some strength. Lifting my main sail also required that strength, but that was caused by a block that did not turn properly anymore. It is getting to know your boat and experience that shows the few things that might not be in order.
) Pulling the wire is not easy, but it also should not be too hard either. But it does require some strength. Lifting my main sail also required that strength, but that was caused by a block that did not turn properly anymore. It is getting to know your boat and experience that shows the few things that might not be in order.