Replacing Keel Cable

[Lloyd Franks]

My V224 has a nylon strap (800 lb. test). I want to replace it with something stronger? What do you use to lift that 575 lb. mother? Thanks.

[heinzir]

I think 3/16" 7X19 ss cable with thimbled eye nicorpressed into the end is what is called for; I'm using 1/4" cable right now.

Henry

[Lloyd Franks]

Thanks Henry...Where do you get the cable? Esp with the eye already done? I googled SS cable, but suppliers seem to sell only large orders (250 ft.).

[heinzir]

Try Blue Water Yachts: http://www.bwyachts.com/BWYParts/PartsList.htm
Part # 5301-1K0

Otherwise any rigging shop such as riggingonly.com can make one up for you. Or you can buy a cheap nicorpress tool and make one up yourself.

Henry

[JoeVacs]

I replaced my cable with 1/4 inch. Got it at my local Ace Hardware. I always try to buy as much local as possible. ( internet sites come and go, but you don't want to lose your local shops. If you don't support them, they can't stay open ) I used the clamp thingy with a U bolt and 2 nuts, that bolts the cable back on itself. Works for me.

[heinzir]

I agree, Joe, but my local stores don't carry stainless cable. I have used the galvanized cable with bulldog clips from the hardware store and found it does not last more than two seasons. I keep my boat on a lake, and even in fresh water the cable would rust right at the bulldog clips. At the time mine broke I was using 3/16" cable. The broken cable let the keel swing down with tremendous force, causing considerable damage to the hold down bolt area of the keel trunk. (See my posts on this forum on keel trunk repair or view the pictures near the end of my Webshots album.) I had trailered to the Great Lakes at the time and did not have a spare cable with me. I made up another one with galvanized wire and bulldog clips from the local hardware store and replaced the cable with the boat in the water. I checked it at the end of the season and it already had some rust and a few broken strands. I have never had a problem since I switched to 1/4" stainless cable. I had bought a cheap Nicopress tool years ago when I replaced my standing rigging and use this to put the eye on the end of the keel cable. I now also carry a spare.

Henry
http://sports.webshots.com/slideshow/230613770IXBurv

[noahvale]

My keel cable broke this weekend. It broke about two feet above the keel. I got some 3/16 stainless cable at Home Depot for 56 cents a foot. The original swage sleeve was zinc plated copper, so that's what I am going back with. To use a stainless sleeve, you need a special tool. I have a swage tool I got at Lowes that will do the copper sleeve. The copper sleeve lasted 30 years and still looks fine, so I don't see the necessity to use stainless.