Keelblock System

[Lova]

Good day,

I've just bought the Maxi77 model sailboat. During wintertime the boat have to be stored ashore on keelblocks covered with canvas. I am planning to build keelblocks myself. Does anybody have done this? If somebody can share their experiences and drawings if possible, it will be very appreciated.


Thanks

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Lova.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Welcome to CF Lova...

Like any other boat.... just a blocked up keel, jackstands and chains/straps...

Or on it's side like this one apparently!

Member Ex-Calif has one... I'm sure he'd be happy to help with any particular boat questions...

[Lova]

Many thanks for welcome and greetings

[Lova]

Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor

Welcome to CF Lova...

Like any other boat.... just a blocked up keel, jackstands and chains/straps...

Or on it's side like this one apparently!

Member Ex-Calif has one... I'm sure he'd be happy to help with any particular boat questions...

That one on the picture really suits me

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by Lova

That one on the picture really suits me

Glad you enjoyed...

Do a google image search for basic ideas.... maxi77 search will show some on trailers... Therefore suggesting that a lot of extra hull support is not necessary... Again... Somebody who has one is an invaluable resource!

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by Lova

Good day,

I've just bought the Maxi77 model sailboat. During wintertime the boat have to be stored ashore on keelblocks covered with canvas. I am planning to build keelblocks myself. Does anybody have done this? If somebody can share their experiences and drawings if possible, it will be very appreciated.


Thanks

Awesome to have another Maxi owner here! And yes many people on CF think we sail 77 foot boats - LOL.

Not sure what you mean by keel blocks. We haul ours into various stands and trailers.

Here is a typical setup - Two pads near the rear and one near the bow. The majority of the weight is resting directly on the keel.

Please ignore the embarrassing amount of growth on the hull. I had been out of country for about 3 months LOL...

Any questions about the boat please let me know. I've learned a few maxi tricks in the last 7 years.

She's not the quickest but she is very stout and has handled everything up to 45 knots with no bad manners.

[Lova]

It is so great to meet another 77-footer Ex-Calif. Number is the most important and is the "77" . I am a newbie in sailing and Maxi77 is my first boat, so I would really appreciate any suggestion and hint.

By keel blocks I mean something like in the picture below. Steel construction to put the boat on during winter storage ashore. If there are some drawings or schemes available to share it would be very appreciated.

45 knots? Uhhh... I will love it

[Dave Lochner]

Originally Posted by Lova

It is so great to meet another 77-footer Ex-Calif. Number is the most important and is the "77" . I am a newbie in sailing and Maxi77 is my first boat, so I would really appreciate any suggestion and hint.

By keel blocks I mean something like in the picture below. Steel construction to put the boat on during winter storage ashore. If there are some drawings or schemes available to share it would be very appreciated.

45 knots? Uhhh... I will love it

The boat in the photo is using jack stands, probably made by Brownell. The supports under the keel are just 8x8 or 10x10 blocks of wood.

Check out the Brownell website (Brownell Boat Stands, Inc. | Professionals Choose Brownell) for information on how to block the boat and set up the jack stands. They are the experts on jack stands.

Another option is a cradle which is a one piece affair. See sailorsrack.com for one example.

The pads and ajax screws go for about $100 each or so I'm told.

If you choose to lay the boat on its side, do so gently, no in the middle of a windstorm in February.

[Ex-Calif]

I have not seen any plans for jackstands but Dave has it right. You can buy them.

If you want to make them it really should not be too hard. the key is to make sure the height can be adjusted either by screw jacks or positioning pins drilled in the tubes.

The good thing about the Maxi is that it will happily stand on its keel so really the jackstands are for lateral support. If you are looking for measurements, I suppose I could take some measures this weekend as my boat is out of the water right now.

[Lova]

Many thanks for help guys

I've come across to that system on the picture below. Also cradles could be an option. It seems not to be so difficult to make, however proper and accurate dimensions are important to ensure that gravity forces are distributed evenly to avoid hull damage.

Ex-Khalif, yes please, if you could do some measurements and later share it will do a really big help to me. Thank you very much in advance.

I'm planning to take the boat ashore in November, so I have an ample time to prepare everything for winter storage.

Dave Lochner ...If you choose to lay the boat on its side, do so gently, no in the middle of a windstorm in February... Ha ha A boat is like wife, you have to be very gently and carefull towards her, and when at sea, she will bring you a pleasure

Many thanks guys!

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by Lova

Many thanks for help guys

I've come across to that system on the picture below. Also cradles could be an option. It seems not to be so difficult to make, however proper and accurate dimensions are important to ensure that gravity forces are distributed evenly to avoid hull damage.

Ex-Khalif, yes please, if you could do some measurements and later share it will do a really big help to me. Thank you very much in advance.

I'm planning to take the boat ashore in November, so I have an ample time to prepare everything for winter storage.

Dave Lochner ...If you choose to lay the boat on its side, do so gently, no in the middle of a windstorm in February... Ha ha A boat is like wife, you have to be very gently and carefull towards her, and when at sea, she will bring you a pleasure

Many thanks guys!

You will find the Maxi hull to be very robust. You will also notice the hard chine at the corner of the hull to sides of the boat. You will have a hard time damaging the Maxi hull.

Having said that I will try to make some complete measurements so that a stand system can be designed.

[UNCIVILIZED]

When you say "keel blocks", I think you're referring to the beefy variety, which literally sit underneath of the keel. Which typically are made out of pieces of say 2x4, or 2x6. And one just cuts a bunch of pieces of the appropriately sized, pieces of equal lengths of lumber to length, say 12" - 18", and affixes them together at 90 degree angles at the corners with drywall screws, & or nails. And of course you can use adhesives in addition to mechanical fasteners as well to... which, knock on wood (no pun intended) will help to keep cheap lumber from cracking/splitting in the vicinity of heavily compressed fasteners.
Especially as in most parts of the country, anything left outside during the winter undergoes the torment of water getting into things & doing the freeze & expand thing.

I don't have any pics on hand, but I'm sure if you do some looking around a boatyard, you'll see plenty of them. And often enough, for; the asking, or a small bribe ($, beer, or rum) you can pick up a used one, or three. Which if that's not enough, just use the pre-loved one(s) which you just picked up as a model/template to make a couple more.
As to the canvas covered bit, that's something I've never seen or heard of on keel blocks. Perhaps someone else will chime in on that. Though I've seen scrap pieces of carpet used a lot as padding/snit-scratch material on jack stands, cradle planks, & other assemblies which hold up vessels in the off season.

[Dave Lochner]

Originally Posted by Lova

Many thanks for help guys

I've come across to that system on the picture below. Also cradles could be an option. It seems not to be so difficult to make, however proper and accurate dimensions are important to ensure that gravity forces are distributed evenly to avoid hull damage.

Many thanks guys!

Generally, the keel supports the weight of the boat and the cradle or jackstands stabilize it. There should be very little weight on the cradle pads.

On the picture, the cradle is not long enough for the boat. If you go forward on the deck there may not be enough support in the bow causing the stern to rise and the boat to tip over.

An important dimension is the width of the cradle. Not in relation to the boat, but in relation to the yard's trailer that will pick up the boat and cradle, find out the max width that yard can pick up.

[Lova]

Thanks for your advice dear UNCIVILIZED

I'll take a round in some boatyards to look for such pieces of lumber. Actually I was thinking of using a lumber, but the weight of the boat (approx 2 tons) makes me a bit worrying about strength of the such construction. Steel seems to be more durable. Of course there have to be some padding for smooth sitting, but canvas is for covering the whole boat to protect from rain and snow in offseason.

Many thanks for your response, I am very surprised how helpful are people here