Swinging, swinging keel

[Scott80]

Hello all,
First time poster here and I’m novice with sailing. I have just purchased the ‘Windsong’ today. After reading comments in other threads on this site, it is Investifstir 563 #20.

Windsong is in need of some TLC but seems to have good strong bones at initial inspection. As a painter of 20+ years I will be prepping and painting her.

I have inspected the centreboard bottom edge from below and it is currently jammed so tight, swollen with shards of rust and won’t move whatsoever when struck with a hammer. I will soon begin the process of chipping away slowly to bring it back down.

Also, I note the pivot bolt between the glass in the bilge is rusty. I think I should be removing this and starting fresh with a new one, and from research on this site I will need to ensure there are some nylon parts and sealant to be used.

My next question is what is the correct setup for the cable to attach to the CB? Does the cable run up through the lengthways pipe within the bilge area located under the removable floor? I would like to know exactly how this works, what is the cable fastened to for lowering and lifting? This is all absent with Windsong so it will become a project to install this from scratch.

Photos to come shortly. Your advice will be much appreciated.

[Ozzie]

viewtopic.php?p=9466&hilit=Pull+rope#p9466

Hi Scott. Welcome and congratulations on purchasing your 563. The above link will give you good info plus do a search on “swing keel” and “pull rope” and a wealth of stuff will come up. I recommend the secondary seal I made, depicted in above thread, as an additional safety measure . This is glued over the keel bolt heads allowing a visual inspection of leaks and second seal . Screw too can be removed for tightening if needed. I’ve never had a leak but gives peace of mind.

268ED9AB-2464-4A79-ACF0-9D60E1403481.jpeg (73.41 KiB) Viewed 860 times

The pull rope goes through the stainless pipe coming from the rear end of the keel case up to the outlet on the bulkhead where hopefully you have a suitable cleat. Quick look only I found this pic of Spritzig II interior

EAAE6D33-4D9B-444A-8E18-927753305AF7.jpeg (37.26 KiB) Viewed 860 times

stainless tube to the left of the pump. The standard setup was a stainless cable joined to a soft rope in the tube but this is now largely replaced by most people with an all dyneema/spectra setup. This eliminates the join and possible jamming. Such material was unavailable at the time of construction. A similar practice has been adopted by many owners for the in mast main halyard.

[Ozzie]

Meant to add if you get a dull pruning saw or standard hack saw you may be able to run it up the sides of the swing keel and remove some of the rust . As your seals will need replacement you probably don’t need to worry about damage . Be cautious about damaging interior surface of the fibreglass case. Photo below shows attachment point/ring on the back of the swing keel. Which I was about to replace by welding on a gal chain link.

30098E82-CDA7-4E02-AE38-1F7C19FC0857.jpeg (62.6 KiB) Viewed 857 times

Please post your pics and any other questions or problems we can help you with. If much of your fittings have been removed from Windsong we should be able to provide clear information on refitting or replacement.

Ps I’ve made a few edits to my first post after your question.

[Ozzie]

Knew I had a pic of my bulkhead somewhere. Top arrow shows the exit point where you should have a sheave (roller) for your pull rope to exit. If your fittings are all absent you may just have a square hole . Lower arrow is indicating cleat to tie off the keel pull rope . While I’m on the subject note Peter T’s warning on letting the rope out gradually during operation to avoid the keel leading edge from slamming into the case.

619992CB-B89D-4BC0-BD19-A6B4E47CE8EF.jpeg (19.63 KiB) Viewed 852 times

[Scott80]

Thank you Ozzie, your post has helped me.
Good news, I managed to free the CB quite easily after using wD40 and continuing to tap with a hammer and pry it back and forth. Now I can simply move it up and down by hand. At the moment she is in the trailer so I only get about 10 cm and cannot drop it all the way until I clear if in the air off the trailer one day.
You answered my question about the oath of the wire/rope. I had no idea where it was until you used the arrows - it’s just outside the cabin on a roller - and yes it is still there. I wondered what that steel pipe was for going up there. Thank you!
The issue I have now - I went to tug in the rope and it is jammed somewhere down the line. I removed the clamps off the piping to inspect and came across the cable. It is well and truly stuck somewhere south of that. My next move will definitely be replacing this with Dyneema, what a strong and versatile type of cord that is.
Can you please advise my course of action once I raise the boat from my trailer and fully lower the CB?
I am now reluctant to remove the pivot bolt and restore at this stage. The main thing is the bolt works and still appears solid after cleaning it up.
Pictures attached.

[Ozzie]

Good news mate. I would be fairly certain that the cable is still connected to the swing keel which is why you can’t pull it through. Wait till you get the keel down to that point you can see and check. It may be all ok. At the very least you can attach your spectra to the end of the cable and use it to pull it though or the other way if better. The opening the cable goes through can be very restricted. Mine had a glassed in sheave as a rubbing surface so the cable didn’t cut into the glass case

To extend the keel I have a stand I sit the back end on, just behind the long glass keel, and drive the car forward till the swing keel has clearance to drop but front of glass keel is still on the trailer roller.
Note
1.Stick a few Jack stands under the back of the trailer
2.I leave the car attached
3.before driving to move boat back I place a strap off my ratchet strap around the bow and then run the ends down the boat tied with stout line to a solid fence post. Strap around bow distributes load evenly.
4.OR you can use a hand puller or similar connected to the strap and onto the trailer frame to move to boat back slowly.

Others have constructed a lifting gantry with great success but it’s a significant job.

Keep up the good work. Thanks for Photos. They help a lot when answering questions.

[Scott80]

Thank you Ozzie.
More good news. The cable is connected to the CB. I sprayed a lot of WD40 down the pipe which run down the cable and dribbled out the bottom of the CB. It worked wonders. I tested it and now there is very good play, pulling it up and down and it doesn’t “lock up” anymore. Even though I only have the 10 cm of movement because of the trailer.
I will take your advice and carefully jack up the rear and secure the weight distribution, then drive the trailer forward to clear he CB. Give the CB some maintenance if needed, I’ll replace the cable with Dyneema and get her out for a test with the motor only. Then slowly learn to sail.
I need to clean out the carby as it’s sat for a couple of years, that’s the only priority.
The previous owner (Clav) of Windsong on these forums had concerns about water leaking in and pooling in the front bilge into the hull of the boat (I think). I’ll have to look into all that. I may ask questions about that next time to investigate if there’s an issue or not.

[Ozzie]

That’s great Scott. I made reply to a post here over 12 years ago

viewtopic.php?p=1894#p1894

I’ll Just quote it here

“Re: Our first time out
Edit Delete Report Information Quote
Post Wed Jan 09, 2013 7:57 am

Hi Steve have not been on the forum for a while but nice to hear you enjoyed your first run on your Iinvestigator. Great thing about sailing you have 7 adjustments on the main you really only need to worry about 1 till you get the hang of it or 2 if you include reefing down. Even after 7 years I rarely if ever use the Cunningham and dont bother with the vang if just out for a relaxing afternoon in light wind.

Takes me back . My first sail on Spritzig II I put up just the main in light wind after 10 mins I could not wait to get the genoa up and start moving.

Enjoy”

Hope this is your experience. Pick a quiet day so you’re not rushed at the ramp and just just take it one step at a time. Like most things these days there are a thousand tube/torials on the net to help . You have picked a stable and forgiving boat to start with so you are off on the right foot.