Center Board - very difficult to raise

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Kennedy C. Fawcett

Have put the boat up on a lift and have no difficulty moving the line to the center board. The design seems to make it very difficult to raise the center board. Does anyone else have the same problem. If so, any solution?
 
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Corky

cb

The cb on our 260 is difficult to raise. I assume it is because of the mechanical set up. Not a lot of leverage. I just put it to the wench and crank away. It seems to come up just fine. Corky
 
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Paul Housman

Center Board raising difficult

Corky, We've got a 95 H26. Have to put my foot on the cockpit facing to get the leverage to pull it up. I,too, use the winch to finish the job. Paul H s/v Linda Belle
 
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Ron Fraboni

Winch for Sure

I agree with others when they say that use of winch is necessary and there is nothing "wrong" with system - just no mechanical advantage and a heavy centerboard. I always take a couple of wraps on the winch and also use a winch handle - even then it takes some good turning until you hear the "clunk" and you know its up.
 
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Steve

Check it anyways!

I quess I'm lucky, my H26 CB pulls up very easly in the water. I assume it would raise a bit harder out of the water due to the lack of bouncy. Either way I would check any & all pinch points to be sure the line is not binding and wearing prematurely. Good luck..
 
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Guest

So Corky,

doesn't your wife get upset that you always have her raise the center board?..... ;-)
 
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Carlitos

Pulley system? Or maybe a little weightlifting?

I bought my H26 used and it brought a pulley or 2 block system that sits on the deck just after the line passes the deck organizer. With one good pull I can raise the centerboard all the way up. Does your boat has this system? If it does, I suggest you get a couple of dumbells :), if not, try such system it works pretty good. Carlitos
 
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M

Head Mistress

Corky did not say that his "wife" did it (what wife would?). He said that his "wench" did it, presumably while his wife was ashore.
 
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Tim P

For What Its Worth...

I too had difficulty this summer lifting the centerboard on my "new" '97 h26. When I pulled hard, the line would slide off the shiv at the base of the mast. I've now taken the boat out for the winter and had the local boatyard look at it. They tell me they found and solved the problem as follows: 1) where the CB line enters the deck (at the mast step), it was chafing on some metal sticking out slightly into the compression post hole in which the line goes down. This was filed smooth. (My CB line did show signs of chafing and you may want to check yours); 2) the sides of the shiv were worn and, apparently, the shiv was small for the line being used. This was replaced with a deeper groove shiv. Anyway, I won't know for sure that the problem is solved until next spring. They charged me $125 for the work and agreed that if these fixes didn't do the job that they would revisit it in the spring. One big concern I had initially was that the centerboard's gelcoat had failed and it had "swollen" from being in the water continually (I keep the boat at a marina). This proved not to be the case and I mention it only because I did find out it would be a warranty-covered item if it had occured.
 
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Bill and Nancy Berg

Centerboard raising

We have had the "opportunity" to raise the centerboard while the boat was out of the water on a lift. VERY HARD! Had to use the winch. But, in the water it is much easier, but not "real easy." The bouyancy of the board is the difference. Just as a point of information.. The board does NOT come all the way up. About 5-7 inches of space is left between the hull and the upper(aft) part of the board when it is " all the way up". This is important to know when you miss the center support on the trailer and when you beach the boat. Backing off the trailer for another shot is impossible, you have to float it higher to get it off. And if the bottom of the lake has a rise or a snag that can catch the open board you can have problems,too.
 
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Ron Mehringer

All the way up

Nancy - You should be able to pull the board up to the point where there is no gap between the hull and the board. If you can't get it up that far you probably need to adjust the ropes and pulleys on deck, forward of the winch, so that you can pull in enough line to have the cb come all the way home. When I bought my used '97 H26, we had a heck of a time getting it off the trailer at launch. Not until the boat was in the water did we realize the cb wasn't fully retracting. Most likely it was getting hung-up on the trailer, causing us grief. Ron M Hydro-Therapy
 
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Bill and Nancy Berg

Centerboard

Ron, thanks for your comment. The 26 and the 260 may be a little different. We were on the cell phone with Greg at the Hunter Plant when doing our little project and he confirmed that "all the way up" is about 5-7 inches down. I asume that if some changes were made in the hole in the centerboard where the line is attached (move aft?) it might come all the way up. But the way it is designed now, it won't. We had 2 guys under the boat push the board all the way into the housing (up into the slot) and then pulled in the line and cleated it (the line direct to the cb without the blocks) and when they let go of the board it still dropped the 5 inches. Of course this is why we do have some stearage with the "board up". On a shallow ramp this is a plus.
 
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G. Ned Christensen

Aways been a problem

I have a 95 H26 and it has always been difficult to get the CB up. In fact, I have never gotten it all the way up. It sticks down at a pretty good angle. I have not used the winch aout of concern of breaking the line or hardware. A good foot on the bulkhead and a strong pull just doesn't do it. Is using the winch safe? How should the blocks and on-deck lines be adjusted? I had trouble last week on a shallow ramp. I tried to back up to get another run at the trailer and the CB was on the bottom and wouldn't budge. Any comments appreciated. Ned Christensen Second Wind Eugene, OR
 
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Jeff

Broken Fiberglass

Last season my 1996 H26 was hauled out. Before it was put in the sling I raised the center board till we heard it thud against the hull. It was then lifted out. To my suprise the center board was 6" down. While still in the sling I climbed back into the boat and gave an extra turn on the winch and it came right up. BTW we have a two to one purchase on our center board line also. With this extra effort all season the bad news began to appear at the axle for the sheave under the mast. It has now worn and broken the surrounding fiberglass out to the point were the whole assembly pops out from time to time. The system works smoothly but seems to need reinforcing. What does the CB weigh anyway? One more winter project I guess. Any suggestions??? "Festivity" H26 1996
 
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Nick Winters

Hunter - Design Problem

Everyone agrees that the centerboard on the 240 and 260 is much too hard to raise without concern for the line snapping or your back breaking. I would like to see HUNTER address this -- not just a bunch of us owners agreeing with each other. Anyone out there with the company??
 
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Guest

Hunter cannot participate

in discussions on this site, although they do monitor it. If you want an answer from Hunter, call them. IMHO use the winch.
 
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Tim P

Why Not?

Is there a logical reason why representatives from Hunter can't participate on this site? It would seem that if they can be of help, they should be encouraged to do so for everyone's benefit. I would think it would also be in their interest (as opposed to getting a bunch of separate calls on the same issue). I also think they could participate without this becoming a company-sponsored site. Just my thoughts.
 
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Tom Davis

use your engine

to get my centerboard up easier i just gun the engine at full speed for several seconds while my wife or son pull on the line. the cb almost flys up into place with almost no strain on the crew and no winch
 
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