Centerboard woes

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Pat Fitzsimmons

My name is Pat Fitzsimmons and I have a Mac26x, 2002 and for the second year have launched our boat (in Barnegat Bay, NJ) with centerboard problems. Specifically the centerboard will not go down....it appears that the board is floating in the pocket. The line that is afixed to it is completely slack, but can move the cb slightly in the pocket This same problem happened last year and as the boat was new... a diver was hired ...of course as soon as he got into the marina parking lot there was a "clunk" and the cb dropped unassisted.(THIS took about 30 hours, from launch) I initially blamed a rough exit from the trailer and a sloppy paint job as the cause ...but the problem has reappeared... I think the problem is simply that the centerboard is not filling with water....and if it is sitting in the pocket at the water level indicated by the owners manual sketch,,,,,well it will never fill ...This depending of course on where the fill hole is drilled on the board .... What gives....? Suggestions anyone?? Thanks in advance, Pat Fitzsimmons,Sweet Basil, Mac 26x Barnegat Light NJ
 
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Don

Another place to ask

You may try this other B board to get an answer. http://www.macgregor26x.com/cgi-bin/MAC26X/webbbs/macboard1.pl?#27223 Good Luck !! I would expect a boat that new not to have any problems. Did they make some late model change in 2002 ? I didn't think they had.
 
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Norm

I have a 2002 26X as well, and have not had that problem. However I have heard that sometimes the water fill hole is either drilled in the wrong place, or not drilled at all. Wonderfull quality control at the Macgregor factory:( Guess I got lucky. Check the website that Don suggested. There is a wealth of knowlage there, and this problem has come up recently with someone else. I'm pretty sure it's just a matter of drilling out a hole.
 
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Billy

floating cb

I have a 2001 X and the cb floated. The fill hole is drilled in solid resin and doesn't work. After a season of pulling the board down and holding it to fill, I had the dealer drill a new hole about 1 inch from the factory hole where the cb is hollow. My cb now drops as soon as I release the line. There were several other Xs that had this same problem.
 
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Bobby T. - 26X #4767

my centerboard floated too!

It floated from day one and would not go down. Since I live less than 60 miles from Costa Mesa, CA - (and the fact that the dealer wanted me to bring the boat in for a lengthy evaluation process) I removed the CB myself and went to the factory. They insisted that the boat leaves the production facility in perfect order and insinuated that I filled the bottom of the centerboard with resin and clogged the holes(true story!). They drilled it out while I waited and it has functioned properly ever since. If you need any advice on how to remove the centerboard write me a note(it's actually a quite simple single-handed operation). email me at taylorbob1@yahoo.com
 
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Don Hill

I found my CB problem

My CB stuck because of Marine Growth, namely barnacles and mussels. I was the diver and looked it over carefully. Well it appears after I cleaned out hte entire box that the box is tight at the top. I left a little growth in the top so the board won't go all the way in. Now it drops like a rock and fills immediately. I have a "99 and I don't know if the box has changed or the CB.
 
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