Centerboard Repair and access

[drgbanks]

Hello everyone,
Any words of wisdom working on the center board? It seems as if the lines are not attached as I am not able to engage it. I had the boat turned over for cleaning, glass repairs, and painting all winter. I had no idea about the keel then. When I put it back on the trailer, it won't engage. I don't think it was like that when I brought it home.

Advice for working beneath the boat would be helpful. I don't have any boat stands.

Maybe it's a simple fix that someone else dealt with.

Thanks for your input.

 

[Will Gilmore]

Some people have been successful at pushing the CB down, through a hole in the top of the trunk. If your boat has a lift cable coming up through the top of the trunk, you might be able to push the CB down with a good stiff piece of steel wire, or even a wooden dowel.

Tell us a little more about your boat. How old? Second hand? CB material? My Mariner has a cast iron board which can swell with rust inside the trunk.

I don't have any boat stands.

Be very sure not to drop your boat on you or anything else. Belt and suspenders with your coveralls.

-Will

 

[drgbanks]

I bought my 1987 O'Day Daysailer 3 in the fall. It's my first boat. I've not been on the water yet. I didn’t know the centerboard was not working until after I put it back on the trailer. It took 5 men to turn the boat over somewhat "safely". I need an easier approach. This is the last thing before I launch.

 

[Sunbird22358]

Diagrams of Day Sailer II and III Centerboard operation. The two versions used basically the same setup, on 1980-85 DS II and all DS III the CB pivot pin is accessed from outside the boat, there are two stainless-steel plates located one on each side of the CB slot, near forward end that hold in a pair of wedges that hold the pin in place. Let me know if you need more info, I have created Expanded Manuals for both the DS II and III.

 

[Sunbird22358]

Here is basically how I move my DS II off the trailer (part way) to allow painting mode of the centerboard and inside of CB trunk (case).

You could also just pull boat off the trailer (CAREFULLY!) and rest stern on ground with boat still on trailer forward of CB slot. Wish I had taken a picture when I did that to replace the up-cable mid-season. I was able to back trailer down our beach by hand, then winch boat partway onto trailer which gave me enough room under boat to remove CB and change cable.