Hi there...
Has anybody any information on keel winches for the GEM?
The design on the one (no. 40, Gazelle) I've just got is not good (an
understatement).
A wire runs from the 30% chord position on the keel over a pulley in
the top of the Mast then support down to a "Jockey" winch that grips
the wire directly. When the keel is up, the lift is at 45deg to
vertical, so the keel is jammed sideways into the mast post and the
wire tension is far higher than need be. There has got to be a
better way.

Also, there are 5mm steel wires + bottlescrew tensioners from the
underside of the chain plates to a bolt through the mast support near
the base. Are these really necessary?


Finally, does any one have a rigging guide? What is the mast rake and
shroud tension?

Any info gratefully received

John Button, Poole, Dorset
OI2O2 692O96