Centerboard lifting mechanism broke. Thoughts on leaving centerboard down full time?

[FeelinMorgan22]

The boat is a 1969 Morgan 22 with a retractable centerboard. Towards the end of the season, when trying to leave the dock, I ran aground with the centerboard down.

Foolishly, I tried to raise it using the lifting mechanism. It was a soft grounding and the boat was still able to move forward a bit (the direction the CB hinges) so I thought it would go up with some help. Instead the mechanism broke (where the cable connected to the cb) and the lifting cable launched into the bilge through the stuffing box. This caused water to come into the boat at an alarming rate. Luckily we were able to get the boat out of the water and onto the trailer where it sits today.

Now I need to decide on how to go about the repair. The way I see it there are 2 options.

1. The proper way: Reattach the lifting cable, rebuild the stuffing box
Pros- Proper repair, full functionality.
Cons- COST - We would need to move the boat off the trailer and have it lifted onto boat stands so that the entire centerboard trunk is accessible from below.
More difficult repair

2. The "good enough" repair: Glass the hole in the bilge/cb trunk that the lifting cable used to pass through and just let the cb hang. When we need to raise it for trailering we would cleat a line on one side, run it under the boat to a winch on the other side to push & hold the cb into the trunk.
Pros- Inexpensive, simple repair, 1 less hole below the waterline
Cons- More difficult and less reliable way to raise cb

Some context - We leave the boat docked all season, so we only load onto trailer once at the end of the season. If I do repair option 2 I will move to a different marina with deeper slips so that I wont run aground with the cb down again (draft 5ft when down).

I am leaning towards option 2 and wondering if I'm missing a good reason not to. I am not concerned with resale price or insurance. Any thoughts on the situation are appreciated.

Diagram of the mechanism in working order.

 

[dlochner]

At 2700 lbs the Morgan 22 is a fairly light boat. It can be lifted off the trailer safely without a crane or travel lift using 2x6s, cement blocks and a bottle jack or two.

A quick overview of the process.

1. Lower the trailer tongue jack as low as it can go. This will raise the stern. Block the stern of the boat with the 2x6s and cement blocks.
2. Raise the trailer tongue jack as high as it can go. This will lower the trailer in the stern and raise the bow. Block the Bow with 2x6s and cement blocks.
3. Lower the tongue and pull the trailer out.

Reverse the process to put the boat back on the trailer.

Best to sister the 2x6s to make a 4x6.


There are variations on this process, it works and if properly blocked it is safe and allows for the proper repair.

 

[LeeandRick]

That is quite the mechanism to raise the board. I would change it to a design like all other manufacturers use. Catalina, O'Day, etc)
If it's just a centerboard without much weight (not swing keel) you wouldn't even need a winch. Something like an O'Day 23.

 

[shemandr]

I would want it repaired. Especially in Lake Erie. I have limited experience in the Western lake but it seems that keelboats had to be careful to not run aground or hit a rock.

 

[SteveHughessails]

A short garden hose and a snorkel.
If you’re not too worried about speed while running or shallow water, you could just leave it down. I have a Hunter 240, with I’m guessing original lines. I will be lifting it and changing my lines in the spring. I’m not looking forward to it but it’s best for both the vessel and me.

 

[LloydB]

I had a similar event happened in my Mac with the dilemma of getting the boat off the trailer so that it could be repaired without crane. Jacking the trailer off the ground from bow and stern may appear to be somewhat tedious but can easily be done in an afternoon to allow you to access the actual damage to your hull when you pull the trailer out from under it. If you do a partial repair and break it again you will have to remove the partial repair and any extra damage that partial repair may have caused. It's fiberglass

 

[FeelinMorgan22]

That is quite the mechanism to raise the board. I would change it to a design like all other manufacturers use. Catalina, O'Day, etc)
If it's just a centerboard without much weight (not swing keel) you wouldn't even need a winch. Something like an O'Day 23.

That's an interesting idea. I agree this design is a bit over the top.

I would want it repaired. Especially in Lake Erie. I have limited experience in the Western lake but it seems that keelboats had to be careful to not run aground or hit a rock.

I am on the eastern side so 5ft draft really isn't a problem once you are out of the marina. There are nearby marinas with 35ft fixed keels that get around fine.

I had a similar event happened in my Mac with the dilemma of getting the boat off the trailer so that it could be repaired without crane. Jacking the trailer off the ground from bow and stern may appear to be somewhat tedious but can easily be done in an afternoon to allow you to access the actual damage to your hull when you pull the trailer out from under it. If you do a partial repair and break it again you will have to remove the partial repair and any extra damage that partial repair may have caused. It's fiberglass

Glad to hear I'm not the first to do something like this

While I do agree the proper repair would be ideal, I am not following what additional damage I could possibly do by glassing over the hole.