Adding Lead to Centerboard of H170 ?

[Sav'h Steve]

Many of you have talked about the CB not having enough ballast.Some have ordered newer than 2002 Centerboards with more ballast.I also got a newer board and weighed it first. Found it to be 16 lbs heavier. I do believe it has helped. I don't have that much lead (ballast) in my pants! And usually go singlehanded.Some have said the weight that is installed is up too high (when it should be as low on the board as one can).I thought about drilling a 3/4 inch bore fore to aft near the bottom and filling it with lead and resealing the one or two holes with fiberglass.I have not read of any of you doing that. Has this approach been tried?Like to hear.Steve

 

[Mike G.]

Good idea, which I've pondered as well

Steve,This is an idea I've kicked around too. One also wonders if boring a slot in the bottom edge of the c/b and filling the space with a couple diver's-belt weights wouldn't accomplish the same goal--- of course, the gaps left over around the weights would need to be displaced/filled up with epoxy or some sort of resin that would hold it all in, and keep the hydrodynamics around the base of the c/b somewhat the same as if the board had been unaltered. Also the c/b is of double-core design, that is, two halves laminated together at the factory, so care would need to be taken in any such scheme to prevent a complete splitting apart of the c/b while drilling, etc.I'm not a naval engineer, but I'd guess that an added 5 to 10 lbs. right at the very bottom of the board would provide added stability. Of course, one would need to add an additional block/purchase onto the uphaul mechanism/line, so the extra uphaul weight would not be a bother. I think such a scheme is illusrated in the 170 photos section of this website.Mike G.

 

[Rick S.]

CB added weight

Adding weight would add righting momentum but it would also add to the load on the CB pivot. Considering the side loads on a centerboard, I'm sure there's a hefty margin built into the hull, but added weight would reduce that margin, and would probably void the warranty.

 

[Sav'h Steve]

Don't think added CB wt would twist out..

Rick,Read your post on extra forces. I just don't think (as a quasi-engineer) that added CB weight would create a stress problem. For one - when you have extra wind, the CB is under lateral stress already. Adding weight would counteract the above wind stresses. I would rather take that chance of the pin shearing. Don't think it would.No wait a minute. There's only one SS screw to attach the board and it goes up. So that means the force is really on the board next to the CB trunk. (Unless someone knows otherwise.)Didn't I read that there was a +60lb CB available in the last couple years. Mine was only +15-17 lbs more.Steve