Santana 21 Keel Hinge Pin

Posted By: Keay
Date: 4/9/08 5:58p.m.

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Hello, I have been rebuilding a Santana 21 for a few months now off and on. Fabricated new chainplates, added new standing rigging etc. It's sailing safe and sane now. I have the Schock manual for this boat and it has provided some useful information. My main question concerns inspection of the Keel hinge. In general the keel doesn't exhibit much in the way of corrosion, but has had the keel cable replaced at some point. After reading the postings on this site it looks like the main way people "Lose" their keels is to be sailing with the keel in the up position or to be raising it and then have the cable fail, shearing the hinge pin and down the keel goes. Does anyone know how to remove the keel hinge pin for inspection? Also, this boat has the first type of keel hinge, having a keel trunk of sorts. Has anyone ever made the conversion to having the the keel winch in the cockpit and running a cable to the tip of the keel like in the manual? Any ideas on how this is best accomplished? (I'm most curious about the penetration of the hull for the cable) Thanks for any insight you folks may have. Keay SF Bay Area. Santana 21 "Isabel"