Swing Keel Bandaid

In my last post, I ended with this particularly troubling image of the winch that controls the swing keel. Parents, you may want to have your children avert their eyes because this monster will give them nightmares. Or splinters. One of the two.

GROSS.

We initially thought someone had stepped on this, because it was so caved in, but after taking it apart and seeing the bird's nest that was the cable, we're guessing someone reeled it in after having it totally pulled out, but with no tension on the cable to keep it from just making a mess. 

The winch is attached only to the top board, which rests on top of that half of a wooden box, which is attached (securely, thank goodness) to the boat. So the whole weight of the keel, about 300 lbs, pulls down on that top board.

Fortunately the wooden half-box was solid, and my dad and Brian were able to fashion a new top to hold the weight of the keel.

And by "fashion a new top" I mean "find an appropriate length of wood and drill two holes in it".

Oooooh fancy.

It's been suggested that we make yet another board, and make it the width of the boat so we can use it as a shelf, or a back rest for the seat that's on the right side of this bottom image. I personally think it would be awesome if it could become a step, because stepping over it to get below is not the easiest. This one will likely be temporary anyway, as I'm pretty sure it's just untreated pine scrap, and I think eventually the goal is to have as much teak as possible.

Brian has confirmed that the electrical and gas is working, so barring any major holes, it should be more or less seaworthy. Or lakeworthy. Which means.....

We need to get it ready for some short trips! And this triangle does not look comfortable.