HOW I BROKE THE BOAT!! | Dyneema Keel Rope

It was an unfortunate end to our Moreton Bay trip with Lady Emma. The swing keel winch cable broke, causing a swing through that resulted in a damaged hull.
With absolutely no fibreglass experience, I set out to repair our Ultimate 18 trailer sailer. Failure is just not an option.
In Part 3 I re-install the keel winch, make the change from stainless steel to dyneema keel cable, install an inspection port over the internal repair and splint the damaged trailer bunk so we can float test Lady Emma.
Join us as we venture offroad, chasing landscapes painted with rich sunset colours and some beautiful swimming holes.
Get out there and travel Australia, it's amazing.
Also a big thanks to my wife Racheal (AKA - WE SHOOT STUFF PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES) and Amelie for there awesome photography. Check out her facebook page or website www.weshootstuff.com.au
Enjoy!
Thanks for watching. Don't forget to like & subscribe.
Leave a comment below if you have any questions or want to share your adventures.
Music
Artist : Mini Vandals
Song : Out On My Skateboard
Artist : TrackTribe
Song : Cold Cracks Us

[@sailingseriously2035]

FYI, 304 stainless is interior house stuff only. Will rust in a marine environment. 316 only for boats. 👍🏻

[@VentureOffroadAustralia4x4]

Thanks for that. A bit of an oversight on my part. I'll have to swap out those screws for 316.

[@lukewilliams9082]

Had a chuckle when you were measuring up the screws for the bunks, imagine if the boat is now screwed to the trailer.. Great video mate.

[@VentureOffroadAustralia4x4]

That would have really sucked after all the repair work. Thanks for watching.

[@jameswembridge7395]

As usual a clear and informitive project completed, I have been wating to see how and where the cable failure was, I think your conclusion is about the closest, as any, I was thinking it got off the pully and damaged. But not. In your coments, its asked about relaxying the keel in transit. I have been doing that . I have to remove my keel one day and now not sure if I should use cable or dienema, but I am picking up some good teckneacks from you. Looking foward to your launch video.

[@VentureOffroadAustralia4x4]

Thanks James. From the people I've spoke to in the Ultimate Association and at ramps it seems dyneema is the popular option. Seems to be about double the load rating for a similar size cable/rope and not subject to the same work hardening as stainless steel. Happy sailing.

[@paulviles5996]

Love your episode bud! Keep them up. 👍👍👍

[@VentureOffroadAustralia4x4]

Thanks heaps.

[@PeterWilliams-x9s]

I took a couple of photos but cant figure out how to send them to you not much to see. Winch in same place as yours. My cable comes straight out of the keel case to the winch thru a small metal plate. No sheaves to alter direction. The cable chaffed on the edge of the metal hole. I put them on trailer sailer place. Cheers.

[@VentureOffroadAustralia4x4]

I was thinking trailer sailer place would be the best place to share them. I'll take a look.

[@SailingYachtSaltyLass]

Some good work there - well done. It all looks very neat. 👍 On our boat, we visually check everything we can before each sail. The idea is to try and catch faults developing as early as possible. With all your new inspection ports perhaps you can do that too?

[@VentureOffroadAustralia4x4]

Thanks. That's some very good advice that I will be making good use of in future.

[@DanielSmith-vp5vn]

Was the keel supported and load taken off the cable when you were on the road?

[@VentureOffroadAustralia4x4]

Hi, yeah the keel sits on the rollers when on the trailer with plenty of slack in the cable. It's a good point you make and a mistake I think many have made.

[@dccox999]

Hi, my cable snapped on my ultimate 18 yesterday! lucky it was still over the trailer so no damage! What diameter rope did you use and where did you get it from? I am in your area based on the lake.

[@VentureOffroadAustralia4x4]

That was lucky it snapped while the boat was on the trailer. I used 3 metres of 5mm UHNWPE from boat warehouse. What Lake are you sailing on?

[@dccox999]

@@VentureOffroadAustralia4x4 We sail the ultimate on Corio bay and a dinghy on Lake Burumbeet and Wendouree. Ended up using 4mm Dyneema from a trailer winch pack (hand to cut the hook off and splice in an eye) the pack said that it was for a 500Kg winch so it should be ok (4mm Dyneema should be stronger than 500Kg anyway) the old Dyneema was 3mm. Haven't has a chance to test it out yet though! I'm terrified of a snap out on the water like you had!

[@VentureOffroadAustralia4x4]

I think the 4mm will be fine. Plenty of working load capacity above the weight of the Ultimate 18 keel. From the research I've done, I think the key is regular inspection of the keel cable and replacing it early if there are signs of wear. Hopefully we'll see you on the water somewhere.

[@peterwilliams4903]

Did you fit the inspection port to the keel case to access the keel cable? If so how difficult and what tools did you use to cut the hole? I've just acquired a U18 swing that needs a new cable.

[@VentureOffroadAustralia4x4]

Hi Peter, congratulations on the U18 purchase. Hopefully we'll see you on the water somewhere. The inspection port on our U18 was already fitted when we bought the boat. I would suggest getting in touch with the ultimate association for some more experienced advice or try posting on the www.trailersailerplace.com.au. I would imagine a hole saw would be best but a jigsaw and steady hand may suffice. Seen as it's below the waterline you want to be sure it's sealed properly so talking to someone that has done it before would be ideal I think. EDIT: I see you've already posted on the trailer sailer place and have some good responses. Ray on the Bay in particular is pretty knowledgeable with Ultimate's. I'd be interested to see a photo of what little access you currently have.

[@peterwilliams4903]

Yes had some good info from Ray. Your video added to that. I'll try and take a photo of the curŕent situation. Effectively no access at all. Just a tiny metal hole on top of the case for the cable to come thru and start to fray about where yours did. IE keel fully retracted. Enjoying your videos.

[@Dlawler]

Now just remember, if the keel ever drops again, or you hit something and think the hull might be leaking, Don't open that hatch to check

[@VentureOffroadAustralia4x4]

Yep that's an urge I will just have to resist.

[@BrianKeatch]

I have an Ultimate 16/3, I want to replace my Keel Winch and I can’t find an original replacement, can you tell me what brand and model your winch is, I would really appreciate this. Cheers Brian.

[@VentureOffroadAustralia4x4]

Hi Brian, I saw an email about this from the Ultimate Association last night. Hopefully someone with a 16 will get back you cause I think the winch setups are different. Our winch is Advansa model F18240. There's also a Facebook group, ultimate trailer sailers Australia and try searching the "trailer sailer place" forum that maybe of help. What part of Australia are you located?

[@BrianKeatch]

@@VentureOffroadAustralia4x4 I am a new member of the Ultimate Y A and that email was very kindly put out on my behalf by them I only saw your KZbin contribution today “ How I broke the boat”, noticed your keel winch so thought I’d message you the realised the set up on you 18 is very different to mine. My winch is outside in the cockpit at the gangway entrance so , very different. I am in Raywood and am a recent member of the Bendigo Yacht Club and am presently working on my U16. Thanks for getting back to me with your info, I’ll check that winch out and hopefully something will transpire soon.

[@VentureOffroadAustralia4x4]

@@BrianKeatch what's the issue with the winch you have? Could it be repaired?

[@BrianKeatch]

@@VentureOffroadAustralia4x4 Repair is my next part of the plan, it is original, circa 1978 fairly worn main cog, and paul are worn and it has a broken tension spring that has a safety pin spring as it’s replacement at the moment. I’m considering new because of its age but I’m open to suggestions .

[@VentureOffroadAustralia4x4]

I see the need for replacement or repair. I wonder if there's anywhere you could get parts to rebuild the original. Ballarat Bearings sell cogs and all sorts of industrial bits.