C-26 swing keel cable thru-hull leak

[Dave]

Hey All

I Have water spiting out the top of my swing keel thru-hull fitting hose not alot and if keel is lowerd abit it stops. Peeking thru the small holes I can see the cable exiting the hose with a clamp that seems loose.Easy fix it looks, only snag is getting to the clamp. The nut faces the front cover, my boat is in the water and I am trailerless My question I guess is, can I remove the front cover or side of the keel trunk with the weight on. If not I was thing at low tide lower keel all the way and try then to remove cover and tighten the clamp

Any Thoughts
Dave

[sailbob2]

I have removed the rear cover on my keel trunk while working on things and have never had a problem. My slip is shallow enough so when I lower my keel it sits on the bottom`taking all the strain off the trunk and cable. Maybe you could sling a line around your keel and winches so it hangs from that and takes the strain off the cable. If your in the water be prepared. If your hose should break off (because of rot) or the clamp breaks because of rust have spares ready to go.

[Holiday]

My very first time on the 26 the trough hull came out when we raised the keel. We removed the teak board from the end of the table with no problems. It does not carry any of the weight.

[tgentry]

Some have had good results with a plastic cap on the hose with a small hole for the cable. I even read somewhere of someone putting that sort of arrangement IN the hose and then another at the top of the hose. Sort of a double baffle.

[Dave]

Thanks for the info.
So some water spiting out is normal ?

I do like the double baffle idea. I am thinking that tighting the top hose clamp down around the cable would slow it down, but also would cause wear at the top and possibly bottom if it were to pull or push on the hose when swinging the keel.

also one other question, is the thru-hull for the cable below the waterline?

Thanks again all, this place is a weath of knowledge !!

Dave

[Mario G]

On my C-22 I used wine corks around the cable stuffed in the end of the tubes , when the clamps are tight the cable still slids thru with no water comming out.

[EmergencyExit]

Hose on EE, has a cork in it with a hole for the cable, and a hose clamp to keep the cork in place. Never had any squirting or leaking problems.

That thru hull is right below the waterline or right at it, not sure which.

[tgentry]

Under certain conditions you can get water squirting up the hose. Not really anything to worry about. Just use a cork or plastic cap to minimize the problem.

[javelin]

When I replaced my cable , I used a huge wad of BUBBLE GUM. Seems to work fine.

[Alanhod]

I like the gum fix.

Thinking back when I replaced the line/rope to my rudder through the rudder tube there was a big wad of silicone that I pulled out. Similar idea just less chewing. Seriously though the silicone was roughly in the shape of a ball (Rather nasty looking) that had been chewed on. I bet this same idea would work. The goober ball of silicone was attached to the rope and pulled inside. I caused the rudder to be difficult to raise once lowered but it would come up in time.

Thanks
Alan

[tgentry]

When I replaced my cable , I used a huge wad of BUBBLE GUM. Seems to work fine.

Thanks, Javelin. I had to explain to the Admiral why I was laughing at the computer.