I'm looking in to options for a keel locking mechanism. This would be to prevent 'turtling' due to the keel retracting in to the hull after a knockdown.
It seems there are several variations:
- the pipe inserted vertically from above secured with a grab screen arrangement (mentioned on this website)
- a rope attached to the top of trailing edge of the keel that is routed around a fixture (bolt) mounted through the rear of the keel case, through the top of the table then and secured. Someone sent me some info on this modification for a careel 18 that they had adapted to a RL24.
- ?hydraulic keel mechanisms
I'm sure this has been addressed by various owners of RL24s in the past but there isn't much info about how people have done it.
Hi, I asked this question a few rears ago and received an answer from Rob Legg himself. It is explained on page 52 on the discussion pages.
Good luck, Martyn
From someone who has had experience on the keel not being locked all the way down in a knockdown, the pin through the side of the case is not an ideal lockdown mechanism for a number of reasons.
1. If you hit the bottom with the pin through the case it is very difficult to get it out.
2. If the keel is not locked all the way down it looses its effectiveness in righting the boat.
3. If the boat lays over far enough and the keel is able to pivot back into the case before it hits the stopper pin, the boat will more then likely not right and the pin will bend making it very hard to remove.
I have since gone to the 40mm post in through the top of the case as my positive 100% keel down lockdown system. Only way to go in my opinion
