I plan on replaceing my broken ctrbrd by making one w/ 2 pieces of treated 2x8 cut to size, 12"x48" and planed to 1.25" thick held together w/ lag bolts and drift pins (metal rods)and a lead insert to counter the woods bouyance. One alternative would be 2 pieces of plywood screw and epoxy together w/ lead wgt. Another way would be an aluminum plate sandwiched between 2 pieces of plywood, the plate thickness and/or lead insert already mentioned brings up the question, how much weight is needed to hold down the wood centerboard? Anyone know how to figure how much weight is needed? And comments on the different methods to home build a centerboard. Has anyone actual experience making one? I can't afford $400 to buy a ctrbr'd but I can afford $30 for a pendent
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Build or repair
What happened to the original board? I think repairing the old board would be much easier than building new and would eliminate the floatation experiments.
What happened to the original board? I think repairing the old board would be much easier than building new and would eliminate the floatation experiments.
Rebuild
Try to rebuild your old ceenterboard if possible. My 222 CB had split open in two places and looked real bad. I too could not afford the $400 for a new CB. So I got some West System epoxy, did some research on how to use the epoxy properly and it worked out great. The repaired CB is still working 4 years later...
Try to rebuild your old ceenterboard if possible. My 222 CB had split open in two places and looked real bad. I too could not afford the $400 for a new CB. So I got some West System epoxy, did some research on how to use the epoxy properly and it worked out great. The repaired CB is still working 4 years later...
Wood will absorb water
I dont' think you should make a centerboard from wood. The wood will absorb water, swell, and potentially get stuck in the trunk. This is why every centerboard (at least the ones I have seen) is made of fiberglass or metal. Even the fiberglass boards with wood cores have been known to swell and get stuck. I would second the notion that you try and repair the existing board. Failing that, I would investigate fabricating a new board from waterproof materials. You might be able to use StarBoard or one of the other plastic wood substitutes.
I dont' think you should make a centerboard from wood. The wood will absorb water, swell, and potentially get stuck in the trunk. This is why every centerboard (at least the ones I have seen) is made of fiberglass or metal. Even the fiberglass boards with wood cores have been known to swell and get stuck. I would second the notion that you try and repair the existing board. Failing that, I would investigate fabricating a new board from waterproof materials. You might be able to use StarBoard or one of the other plastic wood substitutes.
Centerboard repair photo
Larry thanks for the reply and good to hear from someone that has actually worked on there own ctrbd, sounds like a good job after 4 years. What were the conditions under which you removed and replaced the ctrbd? What do marinas charge to lift a boat off a trailer? Perhaps not many people have made or repaired their own centerboard. I have read several magazine articals of wood boats being made with wood ctrbds, so apparently there must be enough past knowledge on build and use of wood ctrbds. Thanks again, keep the comments coming, mates! David S.
Larry thanks for the reply and good to hear from someone that has actually worked on there own ctrbd, sounds like a good job after 4 years. What were the conditions under which you removed and replaced the ctrbd? What do marinas charge to lift a boat off a trailer? Perhaps not many people have made or repaired their own centerboard. I have read several magazine articals of wood boats being made with wood ctrbds, so apparently there must be enough past knowledge on build and use of wood ctrbds. Thanks again, keep the comments coming, mates! David S.
Photo on CB repair
Larry, I'm not very good at bringing up photos or much else on computers. And I don't see any thing to click on in your reply of 12/20. Do I need some particular soft or program. I have brought up photos from other sources. Thank you David S.
Larry, I'm not very good at bringing up photos or much else on computers. And I don't see any thing to click on in your reply of 12/20. Do I need some particular soft or program. I have brought up photos from other sources. Thank you David S.
Wood centerboards
David: you are correct when you say that some boats have wood centerboards; however, in my experience, those are very small boats, and they really aren't centerboards. They are more properly known as daggerboards because they move straight up and down and come out of the boat or water completely when retracted. On the Oday 22, the centerboard sits in the water 24/7, even if fully retracted into the stub keel. All of the centerboards I have seen that are designed to be in constant contact with the water, even on older wooden boats, have been made of fiberglass or some type of metal. If there are all wood centerboards, I would be very interested to know how they keep from getting waterlogged. I suppose you could design your board so that it would be thin enough to absorb water and still fit in the stub keel well, but I don't know if it would be sturdy enough or heavy enough. An interesting problem. I wonder if there is information out there on how much you can expect various types of wood to expand due to contact with water?
David: you are correct when you say that some boats have wood centerboards; however, in my experience, those are very small boats, and they really aren't centerboards. They are more properly known as daggerboards because they move straight up and down and come out of the boat or water completely when retracted. On the Oday 22, the centerboard sits in the water 24/7, even if fully retracted into the stub keel. All of the centerboards I have seen that are designed to be in constant contact with the water, even on older wooden boats, have been made of fiberglass or some type of metal. If there are all wood centerboards, I would be very interested to know how they keep from getting waterlogged. I suppose you could design your board so that it would be thin enough to absorb water and still fit in the stub keel well, but I don't know if it would be sturdy enough or heavy enough. An interesting problem. I wonder if there is information out there on how much you can expect various types of wood to expand due to contact with water?
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