Centerboard/Swing Keel Removal - Hunter 240

M

Maxcromic

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Mar 17, 2023
4
Hunter 240 Montreal
Hello Everyone, I need assistance with repairs on my Hunter 240

I need to remove the centerboard swing keel to repair fiber glass around. I removed the bolt inside the boat and Centerboard won't come off

Any tips do's and don'ts. Do I have to pry it off, pull it or hammer it down? or I am missing on other hardware to remove?

Should I do a poor man jobs repair and leave it there or it is normaly removable and re-installable without too much hassle?


Thank you for your help!
 

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T

twalker H260

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Dec 2, 2003
766
Hunter 260 winnipeg, Manitoba
You could try putting the bolt back in part way and then use a 2-3lb hammer gently on the head. That should start it moving enough to get it out from below. - one other thing to check before doing this. - Is the centreboard line loose and free to move at the mast step? (You may want to attach a new line to the tail of the existing to change to a new one during this process. As the centreboard comes down make note of the locations of all pins and routing of the line. 3/4” redi-rod will make reinstalling easier and can assist in removal. This is a task for 2 people in order to prevent damage.
 
C

Crazy Dave Condon

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Jun 8, 2004
10,516
-na -NA Anywhere USA
@rgranger
Rob; where is the information on removing the centerboard bracket for the 26. I may have missed it but would be applicable to the H240?
Dave

@Maxcromic
look at what Rob sends and read it. Then advise referencing me here. I will then send you a private message. I was involved in the design of the 240 plus I was a dealer.
Dave
 
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rgranger

rgranger

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Jan 19, 2010
12,754
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
Crazy Dave Condon said:
@rgranger
Rob; where is the information on removing the centerboard bracket for the 26. I may have missed it but would be applicable to the H240?
Dave

@Maxcromic
look at what Rob sends and read it. Then advise referencing me here. I will then send you a private message. I was involved in the design of the 240 plus I was a dealer.
Dave
Click to expand
Here it is

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com www.dropbox.com
 
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M

Maxcromic

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Mar 17, 2023
4
Hunter 240 Montreal
Thank you very much Gentlemen. Centerboard is not stuck if freely moves within its bracket. now I understand I have to pull it out since its more likely stuck in 3m 5200 sealant.

I will let you know how that goes later on

Max
 
R

RichardPaulton

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Aug 1, 2022
1
Hunter 260 Semiahmoo WA
I recently completed this repair on my Hunter 260. I used a 2 x 2 to strike the elevated centerboard which released immediately.

Growth of mussels on non-antifouled part of the centerboard was the major issue.

A long threaded bolt helped to realign the centerboard.

Richard
 
rgranger

rgranger

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Jan 19, 2010
12,754
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
So @Crazy Dave Condon has a neat trick for putting it all back together and from you pics, it looks like the previous person used it ... but a tab of duct tape on the pin to hold it in place while you get everything back in place.
 
C

Crazy Dave Condon

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Jun 8, 2004
10,516
-na -NA Anywhere USA
I reached out to the poster and he owns a boat repair facility too. As for 5200 used on top of the centerboard bracket, that was done on earlier models which were stopped as I suggested a bead around the retaining bolt inside to keep water from getting into the cabin. In addition I told him to pull down while wiggling the center board sideways to remove the centerboard bracket . He was advised that it was a two man job

never pick up this boat with a forklift unless using straps that are tied so the straps will not come off due to the curvature of the bow and stern
 
T

TreeRog

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Mar 8, 2023
2
Hunter 240 Sturgeon Bay
Max,
Been following your post, and appreciate the information. I’ve bought a 2004 240, and will have to drop my keel in the spring to repair a chunk missing from the nose of the keel. It’s been out of the water for 2 years, so I hope the foam core has dried out. Are you replacing the old keel, or repairing the fiberglass? If replacing, what led you to that decision? Rog
 
C

Crazy Dave Condon

.
Jun 8, 2004
10,516
-na -NA Anywhere USA
@TreeRog

there is now under documentation on the hunter 240 boat information a detailed explanation of removing the centerboard. If you need any help as I removed centerboards over 500 times, feel free via personal message
 
S

Sean Hutch

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Feb 11, 2022
4
Hunter 240 Lake Nockamixon
I’m going to be completing this job over winter. Would you happen to have any photos of how you propped up the boat? I’ve never had it off the trailer unless it’s in the water so any information would be helpful.
 
rgranger

rgranger

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Jan 19, 2010
12,754
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
There are a lot of tricks to getting a boat off of the trailer. I've read several and I've tried a few different ones myself. I've even hung a boat from a thick oak branch using tow straps...

Bottom line... you may want to start a new thread asking just about that topic... I doubt many people are still following this old thread.
 
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Paule R

Paule R

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Oct 29, 2025
3
Hunter 240 Beaconsfield
I bought my H240 (2000) about four years ago. Over the past few years, I’ve made improvements to the boat and this year, I want to fix the centerboard (CB) because I haven’t been able to fully lift it, and the lines also look old. I initially thought the lines weren’t adjusted properly, but now that I’m looking at the metal bracket, I’m wondering if the pins were installed in the correct holes.

The bracket has four holes and looks identical to the one available on the Hunter Owners site (see attached photos). Based on your experience, could you please confirm whether the pins are in the correct holes?

In the photos, you’ll notice a curve in the CB ( I marked it on the photo). I would like to confirm whether this curve was designed to stop the roller pin. If so, that would suggest there’s about 8 inches of travel in the line between the up and down positions. This would mean that the CB when down would have an angle of about 45 to 55 degrees. Does that sound right to you?

After trying, If I was to put the pins in the holes above, that would mean that nothing would be stopping the centerboard (because it would go above the CB curve) therefore when down it would be completely straight and even swing back... Maybe I am answering my own concerns, but since I am alone thinking of all this, I would greatly appreciate your input.

One last thing, when the boat is in the water, should the keel completly go up in the slot, or is it normal that it hangs a bit.

Thank you,
 

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