Center board

[Bernie3]

When my boat is at the dock should I leave the center board up or down? Sometimes it stays there for a week or so without use. The lake can be very choppy with boats going by.

 

[kappykaplan]

I'd keep it raised - less chance for marine growth to accumulate.

 

[dlochner]

Raise the board. Besides limiting marine growth, it won't bang around in the centerboard trunk when boats go by.

 

[Hunter216]

View attachment 184062When my boat is at the dock should I leave the center board up or down? Sometimes it stays there for a week or so without use. The lake can be very choppy with boats going by.

You might want to consider mooring whips to keep the boat from banging on the dock or some type of boat lift system.

 

[jssailem]

I'm in agreement. Raise the CB. Even pull it up on the dock, lawn or beach.
Get a tent cover to stop the rain from filling the boat.
All sorts of ideas. But the CB up and secured is a great start.

 

[Benny17441]

I would keep it raised to eliminate the board slap. As far as marine growth it can be an obstacle to either raise or lower the board. The prescribed solution to marine growth is to frequently exercise the board up and down. I would not let it go more than a week without exercise. You are in colder water so you may be good for two weeks.

 

[31seahorse]

I agree that board up is a better choice due to less wear on the hole for the pivot pin. On the other tack.....If the board is down there will be more weight and resistance below the surface so the rocking of the boat and the swaying of the rigging might be dampened. Lightly built boats do not respond well to mast and boom shaking about as the hull rocks. I also like the mooring whip idea if the marina allows attachments like that on the dock surface.

 

[Mason13]

I noticed in your picture that you have a topping lift on the boom. Can you describe how your attachments were added to the boom and mast. Pictures would be great. I know this is an old thread, but thought it was worth a try.

 

[jssailem]

Mason. The process is straight forward. All mast head rigged or fractional rigged boats like yours. You attach a block to the mast head ( usually when it is down.). Then you run a line up and through the block and down to the end of the boom. You attach a cleat to the mast in a convenient location that you can reach it. The cleat holds the topping lift halyard. When the sail is down you pull on the topping lift to raise the boom to a convenient height. When the sail is raised, the topping lift is eased. It flutters next to the sail. The sail holds the boom in place While sailing.