26S - 30 minute centerboard removal/replacement (on trailer)

Apr 24, 2006
868
Aloha 32 Toronto, Lake Ontario
Thought I'd mentioned this as I've seen many solutions that are way too difficult and/or dangerous.

Just finished replacing the board on Teliki (split ream repair) and it took 30 minutes from start to finish.

I start by cutting a dozen pieces of 2 X 4 about a foot long.

Then I jack the boat up about a foot and a half with a floor jack . The jack is placed about two in front of the centerboard opening. Release the hold down on your bow eye and anywhere else before jacking. The front of the trailer will also lift as you do this.

Once jacked up, get someone to stand of the trailer tongue. This will pivot the trailer down on the rear bunk and open up a foot of space at the front bunk.

Insert your 2 X 4 blocks between the front of the hull and trailer as well as between the front bunks and hull. This blocks the boat in position at two places ( as well as the jack) providing safety from it falling. If it did fall, it's only a foot.

Here is a pic of it blocked - 10 minutes invested so far.



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I replaced the uphaul with 3/8 yacht braid. A washer was bent to match the opening and prevent the knot from leveraging the centerboard seam open. A double stopper knot on the line fits perfectly in the hole. Don't loop the line through the hole and knot it externally. This will prevent the board from being pulled fully up and it will "clunk" at anchor and drive you nuts. I also beveled the entry hole for the line to reduce chafe (see the second pic).



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My 26S has the external access to the pivot and retainer bolts - and can be a PITA to get these installed through that 2 inch opening on the hull bottom.
To do this easily, use electrical tape to hold the but against the washer. The box end wrench will slip over the nut and also stay in place (tape will stretch).
You can then position the whole thing by sighting through the screw hole - when lined up, insert screw and tighten.



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Easy, peazy - no cradle, oil drums, slings, oak trees involved and the boat stays on the trailer.


Oh - there is a variant of this for painting the hull where the bunks contact it. Winch the boat forward as you jack it. This will pull the trailer forward under the boat about a foot and expose what used to be under the banks. No blocking or anything and the boat (at least ours) returned to its proper place on the bunks as soon as the winch was released. We use Liquid Rollers on the bunks which make this easy (no "Mac bump" required either).

Chris
 
Aug 14, 2013
308
MacGregor 26S High Desert
Re: 26S - 30 minute centerboard removal/replacement (on trai

Excellent write-up! Thanks!
 
Nov 19, 2011
1,489
MacGregor 26S Hampton, VA
I hope I can find this next time mine is on the trailer, I want so bad to pull the swing keel on mine and if nothing else scrape the barnacles and paint it (inspect it too).

One thing I don't get is the pic with the wrench. Mine has two small holes on the hull with caps. I don't see a lot of clearance there. I recall sumner bent a wrench for this purpose. It seemed to me some boats had access from inside via some screwed in plates. Seems like a place to leak to me, glad I don't have those.
 
Apr 24, 2006
868
Aloha 32 Toronto, Lake Ontario
I hope I can find this next time mine is on the trailer, I want so bad to pull the swing keel on mine and if nothing else scrape the barnacles and paint it (inspect it too). One thing I don't get is the pic with the wrench. Mine has two small holes on the hull with caps. I don't see a lot of clearance there. I recall sumner bent a wrench for this purpose. It seemed to me some boats had access from inside via some screwed in plates. Seems like a place to leak to me, glad I don't have those.
The wrench has been described numerous times over the years but it's hard to find when you need it.
I will take a pic and measurements later today. Basically you heat a cheap wrench and bend it.
 
Aug 7, 2011
496
MacGregor 26S Lakeland, FL
Super duper excellent just-in-time post Chris!! I've been wanting to check the swing keel and now i know how to do it easily!! Thanks for the pics also.

By the way, i have a newer S with the internal access holes. I took off the factory "plates" and replaced them with screw type deck plate access ports. It is really nice to have a hand-size hole to fit your hand into! For those concerned about leaks, this area is actually the access into the ballast tank also, so it should not leak if the top access plates do their job. And you get two benefits in one, being able to clean out/inspect the ballast tank.
 

walt

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Jun 1, 2007
3,538
Macgregor 26S Hobie TI Ridgway Colorado
From someone who has taken the centerboard out of a 26S many times (long story) I think this is a great idea! You still have to be extremely careful.. but I like this method, maybe add in some of the suggestions. No fixtures...
 
Aug 14, 2013
308
MacGregor 26S High Desert
By the way, i have a newer S with the internal access holes. I took off the factory "plates" and replaced them with screw type deck plate access ports. It is really nice to have a hand-size hole to fit your hand into! For those concerned about leaks, this area is actually the access into the ballast tank also, so it should not leak if the top access plates do their job. And you get two benefits in one, being able to clean out/inspect the ballast tank.
Would love more info on this: Pics, part numbers, sources, etc.! Muchos gracias!