locking keel down on CM23

Hi All,

I'm new to this forum and I am glad to have found it.  It's nice to know there are a few CM owners out there still taking care of and enjoying their boats.  I have a CM 23 (Calypso) that I have had for about 4 years.  I sail at least once a week during the season (I'm in Ohio).  I keep my boat on the trailer at the inland lake where I sail.  A couple times a year I take Calypso up to Lake Erie for a few days at a time.

My question is regarding the locking bolt on the swing keel.  Until recently, I didn't know such a thing existed.  My keel trunk is covered with carpet (was that way when I bought it) and although the main keel bolt is exposed through the carpet, I never noticed that there was a smaller bolt just forward of the main bolt.  I recently found an owners manual online and when reading the manual I came across info about the locking bolt so I went looking for it on the boat and found it under the carpet.  At least I think I found it.  I just want to get some verification that is what it is before I loosen it up and pull it out and cause myself a headache.  There is a large bolt which I am assuming is the main keel bolt which is located in the keel trunk just aft of the bulkhead.  A few inches forward of that bolt is a smaller bolt, which I'm assuming is the locking bolt - does that sound correct?  As long as I've had the boat, I have sailed it with the keel lowered until the cable became slack, although I usually back the winch a little to maintain some tension on the cable.  However, I have noticed that in rough water the keel tends to bang around some, making me nervous.  I'm guessing that since the locking bolt was always in that the keel was never all the way down?

I guess what I need to know (besides whether I have found the locking bolt) is the procedure for using the locking bolt.  The owner's manual is somewhat vague.  I'm guessing that I launch the boat off the trailer, remove the locking bolt, lower the keel, then replace the locking bolt.  Is that correct?  Does the bolt actually pass though a hole in the keel?  If so, is that hard to align the holes?  When retrieving the boat, do I simply perform the above in reverse?

Thanks in advance for any help.  I look forward to getting to know the forum.  I will post some pics of Calypso soon.

Jason

Jason,

  Welcome to the site and glad to hear from you.  There hasn't been allot of debate on this.  Most of us don't want the keel locked down if we hit anything.  If the keel lock bolt is in there then its probably bent and may take a lot to remove.  I have a 21 and can look later where the hole is located in relationship to the main keel bolt/pivot.  I usually run with a little tension on the cable and its just fine.  The keel moves side to side sometimes and thats normal.  Some of us have put a little carpet in keel trunk to quiet it down.  Will repost with the info.

good luck

Dan

Thanks Dan. I was kind of wondering the same thing (whether the bolt would be bent at this point seeing that it's been sailed that way for years). So many other people are sailing like me with just a bit of tension on the cable? My biggest fear is that the keel may swing forward suddenly and break through the fiberglass keel trunk, especially if the cable were to snap (since we are keeping a little pressure on it). With the bolt in place, does that prevent the keel from moving all the way forward so it cannot slam directly into the front of the keel trunk? I hope so. Anyway, I am at Lake Erie aboard Calypso right now. Spent the day sailing Sandusky Bay. Spending the night aboard Calypso at the Sandusky Harbor Marina. Will sail out to Kelleys Island tomorrow and possibly Put In Bay on Sunday. Weather here is perfect 70's in the day. 60's at night, great winds!

Jason,

 I put one of those rubber trailer bow V's in the forward chamber of my keel cavity just in case the cable did snap. To line up the lock bolt on my 26, the keel needed to be cranked up a bit into a slightly swept back position. When I saw daylight through the hole. I pushed the bolt through. The bolt is located above the water line if the boat isn't overly loaded. It also had rubber washers to keep the splashing water out when tightened. I would then tighten the cable up so that I could hear it sing when moving along. Obviously, The bolt couldn't be in if you trailer it. Some owners glassed in the hole, thus making the bolt moot. As mentioned before in another thread, I would add some carpet to the inside of the keel cavity to soften the knocking when moored. I would venture that I am one of the few members of this board that actually boarded all the new Clippers back in the early to mid seventies. My goodness did they take take my breath away! Still feel the same about them now that I'm in my mid sixties. I'll never forget boarding the then brand new Clipper Marine 32 ketch at the Sailboat Shoppe in Westfield, Indiana back in the seventies. That my friend is something I'll never forget.

Thanks RJM.  I guess will just keep sailing Calypso as I have for the past few years - not use the locking bolt and keep light tension on the cable.  I have had a couple occasions where I touched bottom and it was good to be able to quickly crank up the keel.  And since I do keep her on the trailer, it sounds like a pain to deal with the locking bolt every time I launch and retrieve.  I do like the idea of putting carpet in the keel trunk, I might try that.  I know the CM's were "budget boats" back in the day, but I really enjoy mine.  There is a lot of disrespect for them online, but I don't understand why.  I continually get compliments on Calypso.  I just returned from 4 days at Lake Erie with her.  At the marina I had sailors stop by everyday to comment on the boat, (and I was the smallest boat in the marina).  Everyone especially likes the pop-top cabin, which is great for boat camping (my son and I lived aboard the whole 4 days).  One thing I would like to do is come up with a way to enclose the pop top with some kind of clear plastic, sort of like a wrap-around dodger, so I can keep it up when raining.  It would also be nice to have one made of screen or netting to keep bugs out, especially at night when the cabin lights are on.  I'm going to look into getting something made.

I had a cover made for mine. I had a local canvas guy design this one for me.





I also wanted to add that I cut up a foam water noodle and glued strips of it into my keel trunk to stop the banging. Just another idea.