I am not sure an answer to that problem but I had same problem the other day it just let loose and snaped the end of the cable winder peice there and almost took out an eye, had to cut it back and put new bolt through.

I had one frabricated at a machine shop a while back just now the plastic keel casing as sliped and blocked the hole

I found that out the hard way this past fall.  I was out in a big blow and the waves were 3+ feet, short and steep.  All of the sudden the keel just came loose and started banging like crazy.  Just the sort of sound experience you never want to hear on a sailboat.

After falling off and heading downwind I was able to get the cable back on the pulley and cranked it up a few turns.  No problem.  My fault for not having the pin in.  It was bent, I bent it back and put it in.  I will still keep some tension on the keel.

Bob

I talked to a service technician at Boston Gear this past week.  He was not all that enouraging about my worm gear.  He did suggest trying a 90-100 weight gear oil, without any detergents.  I put some in and will find out the results on Friday.

Sailing season in Iowa begins!

Bob

Hi,
   I've got Keel problems too!!!!!  Where the heck would I look for the Keel Locking Pin?  Is the Keel Pin attached to the top plate?

Have to admit that I don't fully understand the system myself, but the prvious owner of Hull 270 had redone everything and does understand.  I have not used the pin, and my boat is at the moment, 1,000 miles away.

I do have the labeled photo which I downloaded from this discussion board.  I can't find it on the board any longer, and will investigate.

It looks to be a maximum diameter of 1 inch on the threaded end.  The thread is not defined.  The threaded length is about 1 and 13/16th long, after which the diameter is about 7/8" for a length from the beginning of the thread to the end of the  7/8" of about 4 3/8.  

The pin then has a short taper from 7/8, down to 3/4",  I assume that this taper is to allow alignment of the pin into the hole in the top of the keel when the keel is full down.  

So the approximate length of the three sections is 4 13/16.

The contributor is not credited, but I'm pretty sure my pin is pretty close to that description.  

Others have mentioned a 1/2" breakaway pin.  The 3/4" area could be reduced to 1/2 and still work, but it may be an owner inspired design.

Bob Dubuque seems to have recent experience and our friend Bob from Mexico has many years or experience and STRONGLY RECOMMENDS the use of the pin.

We will continue to seek answers to this riddle.

Steve in San Jose.  Hoping to get back to the boat in early September.