Swift 18 Owners

Hi i am about to launch puffin on to a mooring at blackmarsh marina essex and would like to know if run aground with keel down, what would happen to keel and how rectified.
regards David

Hi David,
When the keel comes up when unexpectedly running aground if you are unlucky enough for the threaded bar to catch the edge of the steel housing it may bend the screw. You will then have an expensive repair to do, it only happened once to us in 20 years of sailing a Swift 18. At the time it went unnoticed except for the winding up of the keel felt a little stiff eventually the bend in the screw stripped the bronze bush and all had to be replaced. Good Luck.

Hi Mick & Cheery pie thanks for the information. Hopefully never have to use it
Regards David

I had a similar problem with a bent bolt. See section on keel repairs for an explanation of how I repaired it at minimal cost.
John (Taranaki - Poole Harbour)