Building a keel stand.

CharlieCobra · #1 (**permalink**) 07-03-2010

While taking on the project of rebedding the keel on a Canadian Sailcraft 36 Merlin, one of the things I've discovered is the lack of any information on keel stands. Seeing as I've seen one built and aided in doing another, we set out to build a bulletproof reusable stand for this job. While the laterals are unique to each boat, the bands and base are not. Here's some pictures of the finished stand for future reference for any intrepid souls wanting to do this to their boats.

The base is built from 4X4's and the upper laterals from 2X10's. The lowers are built from 2X8's. All of it is bolted together using either 1/2 or 3/8's bolts or 3/8's lags for the blind joints.

The stand:

The base and lower lateral joint:

Uppers and upper band:

The bands are through bolted with blocks fore and aft between them and edges driven in afterwards to pin the keel

We also built new shop doors since the yard tore up the old front moving it. These are attached to the upper wing doors so the whole thing can open to 16' wide or 12'6" when the wings are closed. They also have casters to prevent sagging.

davidpm · #2 (**permalink**) 07-03-2010

Looks very sturdy.

I assume you will use the yard lift to lift the boat.

1. I would feel really vulnerable putting my hands between the boat and the keel when it was lifted up to clean the joint. I guess a couple of 8x10 blocks would help. Is this what you did.

2. Is there any way you could have rigged it so the boat would have stayed stationary and the keel lowered? Did you consider that?

CharlieCobra · #3 (**permalink**) 07-03-2010

They'll lift the boat off and set it on stands. No issues with that. No way to drop the keel with the boat stationary. Too much weight and potential for disaster that way...

smackdaddy · #4 (**permalink**) 07-03-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidpm

Looks very sturdy.
2. Is there any way you could have rigged it so the boat would have stayed stationary and the keel lowered? Did you consider that?

I was wondering the same thing. If the bottom of straps of the cradle had steel plates, large through-bolts, whatever, that held the bottom of the keel (rather than the cinder blocks), then maybe you could raise and lower that lower cradle with a pulley system on each end? Kind of like an engine pull frame?

Very cool Charlie. It's great to see you working. Livin' the dream baby!

CharlieCobra · #5 (**permalink**) 07-03-2010

No way to grab the keel without screwing it up. This way, gravity does the job as they lift the boat sans keel and mast with the crane and set it aside. Thanks smack...

smackdaddy · #6 (**permalink**) 07-03-2010

Makes sense. It's always fun to "design" though...even if it's completely off. Hence my completely off-erings. Heh-heh.

hellosailor · #7 (**permalink**) 07-03-2010

Nice piece of work, Charlie.

"No way to grab the keel without screwing it up."
But you've already "grabbed" it, haven't you? Smackdaddy mentions pulleys...but suppose you jacked the entire boat a little higher, then knocked out the keel blocking and instead ran a couple of bottle jacks under it?
Of course the rest of the "stand" would need to allow the vertical motion, one way or another. Lolly column sections as screw jacks...whatever. It just seems like it should be possible, although using a travelift and KISS on the keel stand does have its merits.

David-
Our high school shop teacher taught us about putting body parts into places like that. Definitely blocking, or tools with long enough handles that my hands couldn't be pinned. Of course the problem is, if YOU are working under a boat and something is holding the hull over your head, your hands may be the least of the problems. A hard hat just ain't gonna do it.

CharlieCobra · #8 (**permalink**) 07-03-2010

Yep, I'm a firm believer in the KISS principal.

With 9,000 lbs of boat over your head, the best place to go is next to the keel.

mpickering · #9 (**permalink**) 07-03-2010

Looks nice. The only thing I would add are blocks between the upper supports to keep the keel in place when the boat is removed. I wouldn't trust the keel not to shift with its current fore-aft hull support removed.

Keep us posted. Nice to know in case one of us needs to do it.

Matt

CharlieCobra · #10 (**permalink**) 07-03-2010

That's why the bands are torqued to 100 Lbs with blocks between.