Binding Centerboard.

[ruidh]

I pulled the centerboard and cleaned the slot. I rust treated, primed and put in bottom paint in the slot and reinstalled the centerboard after bottom painting the head.

I should have tested it before sealing the ends of the nylon pin.

It binds long before it goes all the way up. I suspect it's binding up at the head end.

Swelling in the c/b? Narrowing of the slot from rust?

I think it's too late to take it down again and address the issue.

 

[31seahorse]

Is it possible that the cable to the CB has too large a clamp and that clamp will not pass through the opening. If it is a line is the knot binding? Mask, fins, & wet suit might answer those questions.

Odd thought: Is it possible to have installed the CB with the wrong edge forward? Is there a difference in the shape of upper end of the board on forward or aft edge? Is the pin pivot hole closer to one edge than to the other? Tough to check those now.

Best Wishes

 

[ruidh]

It binds long before the clamp gets near the pipe. The boat has not launched yet (but will within the week) so no wet suit needed.

The hole for the c/b cable tells me which is the trailing edge. The left side of the board in this picture is the leading edge.


Centerboard and Nylon Pin by ruidh, on Flickr

 

[Joe11688]

Is there any way to get the boat partially off the trailer to get the board down Roy? I think that this is what I would do even if it meant digging a hole under the keel to be able to let the board drop all the way down. There has to be some logical reason why that board is hanging up like that. If the measurement between the pin and the center of the pendant line pipe coincide with the measurement between the pin and the shackle connection point on the centerboard, then there has to be a problem in the keel slot itself. Just being able to work the board up and down slow and visually looking up into the slot with a flashlight may reveal the problem.

 

[AWalker]

What I have found was that the centerboard can warp slightly, casuing some binding. Also, the screws that hold the CB pin plate in place allow water in between the keel ballast and the CB trunk fiberglass skin, causing swelling. I drilled a few holes and alowed the water to come out, whick reduced the swelling some, and made the CB operable. What it really needs IMHO, is to cut the glass at the edge of the trunk, scrape out any corrosion, wet with epoxy between skin and keel on both sides, and insert wedges in the CB cavity and allow to dry, then repair the slice in the glass. Also, seal up the CB pin holder screws.

 

[ruidh]

The boat was blocked very high this past winter so I could work on the centerboard. I should have tried the action before I sealed the nylon pin in place with 4200 and end caps.

There are no centerboard wedges as this is a '71 O23.

I bottom painted the entire c/b. If I pull the c/b again at the end of three season, I expect to see evidence of binding in scratched paint.

I expect to be sailing on Saturday.

 

[Joe11688]

Maybe the board will free itself up after she's been in the water for a while.

 

[estopa]

All I can think of is maybe too much paint or like you said you maybe applied too much 4200 adhesive. It would be a pita to have to take it all back out but maybe worth it while its out of the water. Or who knows once in the water and by working it over the season it may just get smoother.