Question about the keel while traveling

[Brian Denney]

When traveling with the boat on the trailer, what is the recommended vertical placement of the keel?

1) Full down resting on the keel bunk - keel wedges and hoisting crank in place
2) Partial down resting on the keel bunk, but not all the weight - keel wedges and hoisting crank in place
3) Full up not on the keel bunk at all - keel wedges and hoisting crank in place

All three of my options include the keel wedges and hoisting crank in place as I assume this is recommended.

I am asking because with the keel in the full down position and no tension on the hoisting line, the keel bunk flexes and nearly rests on the trailer axle. I am concerned that with the bunk this close to the axle hitting a bump in the road will transfer to the hit to the keel. We replaced the bunk this year with new pressure treated lumber of the correct size.

Thanks
Brian
Honey Badger #124

[Glenn VanHeel]

I take the pressure off the bunk when I trailer. With all the weight resting on the bunk the keel bounces within the trunk (not good) with every bump in the road you hit.

[Don Corey]

Having over 15 years in the boat with way over 100k road miles on a U20 I feel the best traveling arrangement is to support 90% of the keel weight on the crane and winch along with a Spectra safety line around the crane and thru the keel lifting eye.  For sure with the traveling wedges in place.  No method prevents movement between keel and trunk so road damage is always incurred needing a little dress up every few years.   

[Dave Kennedy]

I run a line around the keel just above the hatch and through the base supports of the mast. By tensioning the line I push the keel tight against the housing towards the bow. This keeps the movement to a minimum while traveling. I think i got the idea from another owner at some point. My boat was built prior the keel wedges being incorporated.

Dave Kennedy
#31 Lighten Up

[Brian Denney]

Thank you everyone for the advice. It really helps me to understand the best way to travel.

[Jay Harland]

I basically use a combination of Gregg's and Dave's methods although my tension distribution is for like 70% on the crane and 30% bunk itself.  I have not used the extra safety line and will add this extra margin of safety.  I have added something that really makes the biggest difference.  In addition to the "regular keel wedges"  I sculpted two additional high density (largely non-compressible) foam wedges for the trailing edge of the keel.  Properly sculpted they will have an interference fit between the keel and the trunk.  The foam wedges actually go down a little further into the keel trunk than the plastic wedges do.  Then I wrap a bungee around the trailing edge and up to the mast post.  This holds these extra wedges in place while pulling the keel forward.

I actually started doing this not because of travel.  Elysia and I went up to the boat on the trailer one day when it was blowing about 45kts.  The keel was banging back and forth in the keel trunk just from the wind loading (ever see the video of the Tacoma narrows bridge blow apart? same principle.)  With the foam wedges in place, the keel cannot move from side to side at all (I would think this to be even more important in the pre-stock keel wedges boats).  The foam wedges are still doing the job after five years.

Jay

Madison #73

[Brian Denney]

Thanks Jay - good information.

[Don Corey]

Okay Brian, as self appointed class historian I would like to know for the record where you are located and where the boat will be sailing............  thanks, Don Corey   

[Brian Denney]

Don - I posted in the owner's map update thread also. The boat is owned by my long time sailing partner. We partner on a Laser 28 and he picked the U20 up late last year as an extra boat when our lake went to low to keep the Laser in. We sail at Lake Perry in Kansas, but have already traveled with the boat through Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri for racing and fun. Our club has 3 U20's including us that actively sail and race. Luckily our lake came back up and the Laser is comfortably resting in her slip. She jealously watches when we race the U20  .
Here is the info:

Hull #124
Honey Badger
Owner: Arnold Feinberg
Crew: Brian Denney and Thomas Howe
Perry Yacht Club
Meridian KS

This boat was Previously named Pocket Rocket