Keel shackle

lecker68 · Post by **lecker68** » Wed May 11, 2011 6:45 am

I need help from the Chrysler Brain trust. No splash for a while Keel cable broke during launch. I need the specs on the shackle I know it is a 3" D shackle with an inside width of 3/4" what is the pin size I would guess 3/8" but I want to get a new shackle as with my luck if I get new cable made and lift the boat only to find the 31 year old shackle is not usable. This is for a 26' someone here posted something about it and a few have posted that they had a cable break on a 26' so someone may know. Thank you in advance.

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Wed May 11, 2011 10:18 am

Looking at EE's old one right now. Pin is 3/8's.

sauerleigh · Post by **sauerleigh** » Wed May 11, 2011 1:52 pm

The shackle I removed has 5/16" pin, 11/16" opening and is 1 1/4" from the center of the pin to the inside of the throat. I plan to use the heaviest thimble I can find for a 3/16" cable.

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Wed May 11, 2011 2:35 pm

That looks same as EE's old one.

lecker68 · Post by **lecker68** » Wed May 11, 2011 5:48 pm

Thank you guys that was what I thought it is a real bummer when you get everything ready to go and go to launch and she will only go back 18" and stops solid.now I have to figure how to lift it safely as the keel is going to want to push the boat back or the trailer forward if I can get the cable I am hoping to get a friend with a travel lift lift it. Of course that means $$$.

mcrandall · Post by **mcrandall** » Wed May 11, 2011 6:37 pm

I could drive mine over and give you a hand...

lecker68 · Post by **lecker68** » Thu May 12, 2011 3:57 am

Thank you Mark for the offer. I just have to save as much as I can and try to get the trailer out from under it safely.

hp18carr · Post by **hp18carr** » Thu May 12, 2011 4:36 am

Lecker68

Not to keep you out of the water longer than necessary( I too have a 1980 C26) but if you are going to the trouble of lifting your sailboat for cable maintenance, why not tackle the keel retaining pin check while you are at it by pulling the keel shoes and dropping the keel (figuratively speaking). I'm sure there are a number of members on this forum who would love to see this done on the C26. In time I'll be doing this myself... but for me now is not the time. Just something you may consider.

Mark... every time I see your lifting system I find my hand reaching for the circular saw. I would love to build one like it for my C26. In one of your old post we spoke a little about it, but sadly I know as much about carpentry as I do sailing, are the specs you stated in that old post sufficient or would I need something more specific to build one by?

Terrence
Wilmington N.C.
Chrysler 26' 1980
Pandora (for now)

lecker68 · Post by **lecker68** » Thu May 12, 2011 7:35 am

At this point finances are tight so I am going to have some friends help me and jack the trailer up and block the boat and when trailer comes down move the trailer forward and hopefully the keel will come down far enough and go between the rails of the trailer to replace the cable.

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Thu May 12, 2011 8:49 am

I found that with the bottom of EE's shoal keel 36" of the ground I could reach the shackle..there's a pic somewhere on EE's site. Can't say where as the pics are blocked from work..

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Thu May 12, 2011 3:58 pm

Actually it was 32" ! Pics on this page
http://my.att.net/p/s/community.dll?ep= ... 305424&ck=

mariner · Post by **mariner** » Sat May 14, 2011 2:53 am

Check this system out:
http://www.portableboatlift.com/

mcrandall · Post by **mcrandall** » Sat May 14, 2011 5:43 am

Mariner-

I checked that out and thought it was pretty slick. Thought about trying to weld one up, but I'm more competent at woodworking than welding!

Terrence-

You can go by how I did it in the photos. I would add one more section and I can tell you about that when you get started, just drop me a line!

Mark

lecker68 · Post by **lecker68** » Sat May 14, 2011 6:03 pm

I am getting the boat lifted and when I can afford it the owner and his wife are going to dinner. It pays to help out friends his wife heard him saying I could use his timbers and cribbing and jacks and she called him on the phone and said to lift it.

mcrandall · Post by **mcrandall** » Sat May 14, 2011 6:16 pm

Cool beans!

lecker68 · Post by **lecker68** » Sat May 14, 2011 6:25 pm

As I always have said help people and they will help you some will help save you and some will help drown you the latter you don't need to call friends.

mcrandall · Post by **mcrandall** » Sat May 14, 2011 6:30 pm

Call it providence, call it karma--it all comes around in the end, eh?!

lecker68 · Post by **lecker68** » Sat May 14, 2011 6:31 pm

yes it does.