Venture 22 Keel BANG BANG BANG.

[82Venture22]

I have the MAC Venture 22 (1982). I have the wind Keel which means I wind up and down my keel using the wench.

When I am out in heavy wavy water my keel starts slamming back and forth causing the whole boat to shake to the point I am convinced this can't be good for the boat.

The keel is lowered all the way and the winch is locked so it can't turn further. Is there something Im not doing here. Is there another cable supporting the keel that I don't know about.

Help please summer almost over !!

[CharlieCobra]

Check the keel pivot bolt for slop or looseness. Mine bangs occassionally when I get hit by a beam wave or wake hard but that's it. Are you locking your keel down?

[82Venture22]

When you say locking it down all I am doing is just making sure the wench spindal can not turn either way. What normally does locking it down involve? Thank you so much for your help.

[CharlieCobra]

While my boat doesn't seem to have one, most of the swing keel boats have a second bolt for locking the cable down.
Check here: http://www.macgregorowners.com/ for more answers. The site has a very active forum with lotsa Mac/Venture owners.

[rats319]

On my mac 22, there is a holt in the keel near the pivot bolt. when the keel is nearly all the way down, you can insert a bolt through the hole, then let the keel down the last bit and it will lock there and stop the banging.