Center Board question

[King]

I have a '76 O'day 25 with a center board. Recently, while moving the boat off of its trailer in the boat ramp the bottom tip of the center board caught on the rear cross member of the trailer. The result was a 1/4" by 1" nip in the lower rear tip of the center board. Looks like someone took a small bit out of the tip of the center board. Is the center board made with a core and should I repair that which appears to be very minor, or forget it and leave it alone?

 

[Ric Shultz]

core

I would fix it as you don't want any water to get in and affect the core/skin adhesive.

 

[r.w.landau]

Ric,

Does the center board even have a core or is it solid fiberglass layup?r.w.landau

 

[Herb Parsons]

Give Rudy a Call

If I were you, I'd call Rudy at D&R Marine (www.drmarine.com). He'd know for sure if any of the centerboard were cored centers.My rudder split some time ago, and Rudy told me that some of the rudders on the O'Day 25 were solid, and some were foam core. Mine was the latter, and needed to be replaced instead of repaired (I know, I repaired it, and it only lasted another year).I wouldn't be surprised at all if it's the same situation with the centerboard. If so, and your CB is cored, you'll want to repair it to stop water intrusion.The core will soak up the water, expand, and split the fiberglass.

 

[King]

Thanks Herb and Rick for the comments. I checked with Rudy and he said the center board does not have a core -- but recommended the small bite out of the tip be reepaired to prevent water presure from eventually expanding the fiberglass in the center board.

 

[Herb Parsons]

So Now You Know

See, now you know. Actually, I think repairing the "bite" will be easier than you think. My rudder repair was my first attempt at any fiberglass work (but believe me, not my last), and even though it wasn't successful, the boat shop I had that made an estimate said "$200-$300 to repair, and no guarantee it will hold". So, I figured a year holding wasn't bad for my first attempt.BTW, the replacement rudder from Rudy was solid.