mike92105 wrote:
Have a 22' sailboat,"Windrose", I think I need to inspect the 900lb. iron?
keel, any ideas how to do this as the boat is usually trailered and hence
the keel is in the up position.

Easy. You need to get the boat up high enough to lower the keel, and get
the trailer support ouot of the way. You could use 2 chain hoists and
slings from 4 strategically spaced & healthy trees, or put the trailer
up on stands and unbolt the keel support, or take it to a boatyard and
have them put it up with a Travel-Lift.

Lack of maintenance on the pivot bearing & lifting gear (wire pennant,
usually) is an invitation to disaster.


... It is also rusting i.e. previous paint
peeling off, is it necessary to paint swing keels? Special paint?

Not really "special paint" but it would pay to sandblast the thing down
to shiny metal, fair it, and seal it. Some would recommend epoxy but
IMHO the problem is that this seals in moisture after the first tiny
nick in the finish, such as if you run aground. Maybe zinc chromate
primer, or old fashioned red lead (if you can still buy the stuff).

I know people with iron swing keels that just drawl under the trailer
with a wire brush and a can of Rust-Oleum once a season. Seems to work OK.

Hope this helps.
Fresh Breezes- Doug King