I have a 1985 19-foot O'Day which I've been sailing for nearly 15 years and never had this problem. When I tried to lower the centerboard, it wouldn't go down. Short of going in the water (It's really cold right now) any advice for getting it loose? Thanks
My swing keel won't lower!
- Thread starter seabrina
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I have had this happen on my Daysailer and my 222. On the
daysailer, one of the centerboard control lines got wedged between the board and trunk. The boat was on the the trailer , and I was able to pry the board down. On my 222, I had ran aground in soft sand with the board up, I put the boat on the trailer for about a month. The next time I tried to lower it, it wouldn't budge. With the boat in the water, I took a screw driver under the boat and pryed it down. Once it moved, sand was falling from the trunk and the board fell down. From then on, when I run aground, I will lower the board to clean out the sand. No problems since then. I think you will have to pull the boat or get wet.
daysailer, one of the centerboard control lines got wedged between the board and trunk. The boat was on the the trailer , and I was able to pry the board down. On my 222, I had ran aground in soft sand with the board up, I put the boat on the trailer for about a month. The next time I tried to lower it, it wouldn't budge. With the boat in the water, I took a screw driver under the boat and pryed it down. Once it moved, sand was falling from the trunk and the board fell down. From then on, when I run aground, I will lower the board to clean out the sand. No problems since then. I think you will have to pull the boat or get wet.
If you have a trailer for this boat, you could try getting the boat partially off it by roping the stern off to something solid and shoring up under the stern with wood blocks. Block it up in such a way that the boat doesn't tip and use the towing vehicle to slide the trailer out from under the boat enough to get at the centerboard. This process works even better with a roller trailer and four boat stand in the stern. I don't have to remind you that this can be dangerous if it's not done right, but it is doable. I've been doing this for years with my O'Day 222 and a flat bunk trailer. Actually, four sailboat stands can lift that boat right up and suspend it. They're not made for this purpose, but I've used four sailboat stands space out, along one powerboat stand under the bow to do this and it works for my boat which goes about 2200 lbs. If you do this, have someone assist you and take every safety precaution.
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If you plan on getting wet, you need to take a long thin object with you and try to stick it up in between the centerboard and the keel slot or casing, and work it forward and aft. An old saw or a metal carpenter's building square will fit. This may free it up. If worse comes to worse, you can have the boat raised at a boat yard. Good luck with that.
Joe
Often, motoring along at good speed, for a mile or two, will rinse enough sand or growth out of the keel slot for the board to release itself. Good luck.
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