stuck

started on the keel,used the saw method and have got the saw to run up both sides,but I have only managed to move the keel with about 2 inchs showing,i will jack that bit back up and knock it down again and see if I can gain a bit more,as I don't want to damage the top by hammering to much,if I can get a bit more out I was going to put a clamp on it and try and leaver it down,am open to any suggestions ,the other idea was to drill a hole in the exposed bit and put a bolt in to use as a fulcrum,this keel has not seen daylight for many years,any helpful ideas most welcome regard harry

Just keep working it up and down, and use a pressure washer or hose from top and bottom.  Washing forces out the  bits of grit and rust that jam the keel.  I used a saw with the handle removed, allowing it to be used with the teeth pointing downwards.  It worked really quickly with water from a hose washing out the bits. Be careful though - my keel suddenly dropped so if I wer doing it again I would put some wood blocks under it to limit the fall.  

thanks for the advice brian,but for the first time I have been beaten by a boat,it took me 4 hours to knock the keel back up,and that was only 2 inchs,even using a jack I was lifting the boat off its props,so I cant take the risk of taking it down further even if I could,i will still enjoy my sailing and treat it like a pedro,i also did some early sailing on the medway in a 32 foot rn cutter,you might have sailed past my base, at that time I was on the arethuse at Rochester regards harry

The keel must be mostly rust Harry.  Either that or there are a few stones trapped in there. One last idea would be to knock it down with a Kango hammer.  Once you get it out around 8 inches the rest should be fairly easy.Even though it's really stuck it should be possible to free it, but I know the feeling - is it worth the time and effort?  

Your description of sailing on the Medway took me back to when I was a lad in the 60s!  My brother and I had a 14ft ex-RNSA so-called dinghy which we kept at Upnor.  It sailed like a pig in anything below force 4 but was built like a tank with a massive drop keel.  I have fond memories of the Arethusa and have often wondered what happened to the old girl. Did you work on the TS or what?

Brian

Just eavesdropping on this thread,I sailed a British Moth from Hoo marina and took part in Medway week from Upnor Yacht club.in the sixties.
Sailed in a Dragon that was racing against Bluebell one of HRHs boats,,we nearly crashed into the Arethusa,Whoops

I well remember you fast lads at Hoo!  When you were racing you used to shout at us in our lumbering old gaff rigged tub.  We responded with a well executed Victory sign or three!