Center board stuck any suggestions

[tommym]

My 12 year old Hunter170 has a stuck centerboard. Never has done anything but drop all these years of use. Anyone have a suggestion as to how to get it unstuck?

It seems to be hitting something on the hull as it goes "Clunk" when you try to drop it. It is solid and no forcing it at this point. Could it be out of it's pivot? Maybe something fell in the well.

I am avoiding taking it out of the water and on the trailer as we have at the dock all summer on a little lake off Lake Michigan. That will be the next step if no ideas here.

 

[kloudie1]

Verified that it is NOT down?? as when the fitting comes off the board and it goes down, but it feels like it is up because the line won't pay out.. ? I have seen a few of these, one was on a boat I owned..

 

[esterhazyinoz]

I would get a facemask and a good waterproof torch and have a quick look at the undersides. Ultimately you may have to have a crane lift it and while up in the air you might as well prepare yourself to renew all components (pivot pin, line, etc.). Reasonable to expect to do so after 12 years of use.
I have attached the page from my H15 owners manual about the centreboard. I don't know if it is the same as yours but it should be close.
Good luck!

 

[tommym]

Thanks for the replies.

It fixed itself somehow. We have a high bank at the shallow end of our docks. We were against some wood spring polls and were pulling the mast over with a spare line I use to hold the mast to the trailer while rigging. I was going to go under the tipped boat to check the centerboard from the bottom when it just fell out on its own. A rock or something must have fallen in the well. There was a lot of seaweed but that could only contribute not cause the solid clunking noise.

What ever it was it fell out and we have had some great sails on Lake Michigan this weekend.

Thanks for the forum.

 

[JerryA]

That's perfect! I had mine out once and it wasn't fun.

JerryA

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Not enough was said but if the boat stays in the water all the time and you are in salt water, you might have barnacles. It is easy to remove the centerboard but make sure you have caulking and alcohol for cleaning.

NEVER USE ACETONE ON THIS BOAT.
MOST ANTI FOULING PAINTS WILL HARM THE MATERIAL OF THE BOAT AS WELL.
CALL HUNTER ON THE TYPE OF ANTI FOULING PAINT ALLOWED

crazy dave