# Mike Senior

I have done this, a few years ago now, but what I remember is:-

I purchased the strap from Canvey Island but it seemed to be the same as a (short) trailer winch strap, with a sewn in loop at one end - the keel end.
There isn't enough space on my boat to make a good loop in situ. My boat is fairly old (S/N 84) and I know they have changed the keel design since then but the principle is the same. I had only one access hole to the retaining pin and because this was rusted solid had to make another on the other side (my keel box is enclosed in wood so this is normally covered). In the end I had to drill the pin out - I dare not use heat in such an enclosed space to break the rust. This caused some damage to the hole because the drill wandered (stainless pin in mild steel?) but it hasn't been a problem since.
If I ever remove the keel I'll replace the channel the pins screws into. I'm fairly sure that the pin is in fact a metric bolt but can't remember the size. I think I had to cut the head off and cut a screwdriver slot. I also cut a slot in the other end for use when dismantling in future.