swing keel locking mechanism

Posted By: dick
Date: 3/8/07 9:34a.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: transom (carlos)

Fellow sailors, I am about to begin sailing my Newport 16 on Monterey Bay and I am concerned about being knocked down. Winds can be brisk out there. I have overhauled this boat and am quite confident about the hull, and the standing and running rigging. I've gotten a new main with a big reef in it. However, if knocked down, unless the keel can be locked into place, there is the danger of the keel falling back into it's trunk and then the boat will not self-right. It could turn turtle or ... I have a copy of an old Neptune brochure that shows a keel lock: basically a bolt that is threaded into the side of the keel trunk. When the keel is down, you tighten this bolt to hold it securely in place. I suppose it can also be used to keep the keel from rattling around inside the trunk when it's not down. Do any of you have experience with this keel lock set-up, or something that accomplishes the same purpose? I'm concerned about water leaking thru the bolt hole if I put one in, but it is clear that I'll need to do something. Thanks for your help.