Chrysler Sailors Forum

Alan on my 1980 the keel pin is held in by 2 shoes or brackets at the forward end of the keel housing I do not know if they are available and have never had mine out so I don't know how many bolts are in it. If this new owner is around New York I would be interested in meeting and give them an early welcome from me.

Unlike the C22 the bracket is completely external on the C26, and you should be able to inspect in on the trailer visually and by tapping it. I think there were 4 bolts, 2 per side, can't recall..maybe it was 6..I do have a pic of EE's here.

If you were to cup your hands together like you were scooping up water, and then run a pencil under your thumbs and across the "cup" you'd have a pretty good idea of how the keel shoe and pin works.

As far as parts I've grown fond of telling people the only original part still available for the C26 is a can of polyester resin..

Hope that helps !

Go to one of Windwards posts and at the bottom click on cryslersailing.lizards.net. Click in the how to prompt, then click on the 2nd post. there are some good pics of a failed bracket and his solution. There are also several pics of the keel out of the boat to give you an idea of what you're dealing with.

I think this is an example of an unusually bad keel shoe failure. I don't know how many people here have had a failure that bad. Maybe others can chime in on the condtiion of thier's. Mine appears to be fine but I want to pull them to check the condition of my pin.

Clair

The question about the c26 keel pin and shoes keeps coming up from time to time. Out of all the c26's on this forum surely someone has removed them for inspection at some point in time... with photos I hope. Like me I feel a good number of c26 owners wish to do this. Has any c26 owner had the courage to go where it seems mortal men fear to tread? The photos that Clair spoke of are to vague with no true step by step narration to be of real use in a pull for inspection scenario.

Terrence
Wilmington N.C.
Chrysler 26' 1980
Pandora (for now)

Hi All,

I am the new member (and C26 owner) who asked the question about the C26 keel bolt. Thanks Alan for forwarding it along. I did post a question last week about going from stands into a regular trailer (probably not going to try that approach).

The boat I'm buying has been stored outside for about 4 years and the owner just recently figured out that the keel cable is broken. I figure that it makes sense to check the keel bolt and any other mechanical issues relating to the keel at the same time I'm fixing the cable. The drawing of the C-26 keel brackets in the Chrysler Sailors web page doesn't give much to go on. Thanks for your suggestions so far. I'll post follow up info as I get it.

This is a great group!

Thanks again,
Bob

If the stands have the bottom of the keel at least 32" off the ground you can change the cable easily. You'll have to reach a couple inches into the keel pocket at that minimum height, but I had no problem doing it.

Also you should be able to inspect the keel shoe at the same time since it is external.

Good Luck !

Welcome aboard Bob and if you get the min clearance you may be able to see your side to side movement and you will have some and this may let you see if you have alot to worry about. I am on the want to list but I would like to be able to get it inside for a winter. I also have to replace the keel cable (30 years old) and for 3 years have not lowered the keel as I don't want it to break. when I have money for a lift a marina that I help out the owner is going to lift her and when I get the new cable in he will set it in the water.

Welcome Bob and congrats on the C-26 its a great boat even when the 1st mate doesn't think its big enough

Sorry I can't help you with the keel question, mine happens to be a fixed keel ( be careful what you wish for)

Good luck and please keep us informed how things are going. and pictures, please post pictures

Welcome to the C26 club!

As everyone has said the keel shoes (brackets) are external and you can easily see their general condition. If you get directly beneath the keel shoes you'll be able to see just a bit of the keel pin and some of the surface of the shoes inside the slot.

Copacetic's previous owner replaced the bent keel pin which I have, and there is no corrosion at all; but then she's always been a fresh water boat. Taking off the shoes would involve a good support for the keel and some easily accessible bolts.

Check out EE's pictures for the cable replacement.

Hello again,

Well, I made the purchase, but now I need to get the C-26 (without a trailer) home. I have quotes from $600. to $875. for about a hundred mile trip. Does this seem about right? Have any members used a shipping-auction service called uShip? I guess you put out your needs on a web site, and then trucking companies bid on doing the job. You choose the best deal and pay a percentage of the agreed-upon price to the auction company.

Thanks all.
Bob

bearley wrote:Hello again,

Well, I made the purchase, but now I need to get the C-26 (without a trailer) home. I have quotes from $600. to $875. for about a hundred mile trip. Does this seem about right? Have any members used a shipping-auction service called uShip? I guess you put out your needs on a web site, and then trucking companies bid on doing the job. You choose the best deal and pay a percentage of the agreed-upon price to the auction company.

Thanks all.
Bob

Hey Bob,
I have no personal experience here however my brother does on shipping a truck from California to Washington State. His biggest complaint was there was no agreed delivery date. He also prepaid which left him zero negotiation or recoarse should the truck not arrive in a timely fashion.
It took over two weeks to move a truck that should have taken a day and a half. For the money he paid I could have riden my Harley down, loaded it in his truck, and drove his truck back with my bike in it and all in well under a week alone and in one weekend had I used a rider to help drive.

Just some things to think about. Again, I have no experience and am only echoing what he told me.

Lastly, is a water route an option? Fly me in, you and I take her home, and then fly me home! LOL! Ooops, sorry, that was a flagerant offer on a none commercial board . . . Strike that . . . .

Scott

Perhaps I missed it, but where are you located? There may be a member who has a trailer that can help you. Of course up here most trailers currently have a boat on them.

If you were in my area I'd be willing haul it on my trailer, but we'd have to wait until the water is less solid so I could take my boat off the trailer.

tgentry,

I'm in NH and the boat is in Warwick, RI. My hope is to move it up over the road because it has been sitting for over four years, and I know at least that the keel cable is broken. This is one of those boats that's been sitting neglected for a long time. I'd like to mess around with it on land for a while before putting it in water.

Bob