Miscellaneous Tips For Pocket Cruisers
This is a collection of miscelaneous pocket cruiser questions, and my view points on the subject. I also have links to other projects & solutions that I have done on my boats, see links on the home page.


2nd Hole In Swing Keel Trunk (the locking bolt)
Q - I have a swing keel. The trunk has one large bolt thru it that the keel pivots on, and a 2nd hole which looks like you could put a bolt in there, what is it?
A - This is probably the lock down bolt hole. When the keel is fully lowered, there is a matching hole in the keel which the bolt passes thru to lock it in place. The purpose is that if you capsize your boat, it will prevent the keel from falling (slamming) back down into your trunk and possibly putting a hole in your boat. Do NOT use a steel bolt. The problem with using a steel bolt is that if you sail into a shallow area and your keel strikes the bottom, the keel will bend your bolt and make it nearly impossible to remove. Trust me, I have done this. Most manufacturers suggest using an aluminum or nylon (plastic) bolt, so that if you hit the bottom, it will shear off instead of bending. For more info on swing keels, see the Boat Features page

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