I realize this issue has been discussed fairly frequently in the past, but wanted to toss it out there again. I'm finding the centerboard is very hard to pull up. The assembly includes the block and tackle setup that has been discussed and from what I can see, the line appears to be the appropriate size and is on the roller. When pulling up the centerboard, it takes two hands on the winch, and a couple of wraps of the line around the winch will try to slip. Should it really be this hard to get up?
H26 Centerboard Uphaul
- Thread starter jao1972
- Start date
- Status
centerboard raising effort
I'm new to this forum and to this boat having just purchased a 1995 h26 in the fall. I just pulled the boat for the first time and painted the bottom and looked for problems with the centerboard dropping as it would often hang up halfway down and cause great leeway when close hauled. My problem turned out to be zebra mussels and general marine growth around the pivot point of the board. But I noticed that the board is a fiberglass unit that appears to be hollow or foam filled. I think that if there would be some damage to allow water to soak/fill the interior that it would become so heavy that it would be difficult to raise. As it is it appears that the board depends on buoyancy to help raise it since it is nearly impossible to raise when the boat is out of the water so I believe my theory to be true. Any water intrusion would make the raising extremely difficult.
I'm new to this forum and to this boat having just purchased a 1995 h26 in the fall. I just pulled the boat for the first time and painted the bottom and looked for problems with the centerboard dropping as it would often hang up halfway down and cause great leeway when close hauled. My problem turned out to be zebra mussels and general marine growth around the pivot point of the board. But I noticed that the board is a fiberglass unit that appears to be hollow or foam filled. I think that if there would be some damage to allow water to soak/fill the interior that it would become so heavy that it would be difficult to raise. As it is it appears that the board depends on buoyancy to help raise it since it is nearly impossible to raise when the boat is out of the water so I believe my theory to be true. Any water intrusion would make the raising extremely difficult.
No it should not be hard to raise.
Pull the boat out on jackstands and inspect. Chances are marine growth is making it difficult. Repair and take advantage and paint it woth anti foul paint. By applying so much force you will most likely break the line or a block.
Pull the boat out on jackstands and inspect. Chances are marine growth is making it difficult. Repair and take advantage and paint it woth anti foul paint. By applying so much force you will most likely break the line or a block.
not likely Barry
Gotta disagree with the bouyancy thought, that sucker is made to sink, otherwise it would not do so when releasing the line...and if it did get water intrusion, water being the same density as the water around it, then it would be neutral, Think about it water does not sink in water(unless it is colder). I think the writer has a mechanicle issue, or is trying to raise it while under sail. Another interesting question is why if it is so hard to raise, would it readily drop?, obviously if there were a binding issue requiring great force to raise, then the c-board would stay up in the well and not drop when the line was slacked..So I would ask A: are you trying to raise the c-board under sail (not a good idea)? B: How did you get the board to drop in the first place?
Gotta disagree with the bouyancy thought, that sucker is made to sink, otherwise it would not do so when releasing the line...and if it did get water intrusion, water being the same density as the water around it, then it would be neutral, Think about it water does not sink in water(unless it is colder). I think the writer has a mechanicle issue, or is trying to raise it while under sail. Another interesting question is why if it is so hard to raise, would it readily drop?, obviously if there were a binding issue requiring great force to raise, then the c-board would stay up in the well and not drop when the line was slacked..So I would ask A: are you trying to raise the c-board under sail (not a good idea)? B: How did you get the board to drop in the first place?
bouyancy or not. That is the question.
hi Rob You probably have much more experience with this boat than I do, but. How do you explain the near impossibility of raising the centerboard when the boat is out of the water in the slings? The attachment point to raise the centerboard is impossible to see from the bottom which tells me it has a poor mechanical purchase on the board.(It must be very near the pivot point)
hi Rob You probably have much more experience with this boat than I do, but. How do you explain the near impossibility of raising the centerboard when the boat is out of the water in the slings? The attachment point to raise the centerboard is impossible to see from the bottom which tells me it has a poor mechanical purchase on the board.(It must be very near the pivot point)
H26/260 Centerboard
Yes, the centerboard is hard to raise, but I've found that if you raise it while moving forward, a few knots/hr under power, the water pressure on the centerboard makes it easier. Otherwise, you have to resort to using the winch or just pulling as hard as you can. If the only way you can get the centerboard up is with the winch, maybe you do have an obstruction (or you need to visit the gym more often
)
Yes, the centerboard is hard to raise, but I've found that if you raise it while moving forward, a few knots/hr under power, the water pressure on the centerboard makes it easier. Otherwise, you have to resort to using the winch or just pulling as hard as you can. If the only way you can get the centerboard up is with the winch, maybe you do have an obstruction (or you need to visit the gym more often
)
heavy man
I am pretty sure the center board is weighted, using it's own weight to hold it down. Water is more dense than air, which may add a bit of boyancy (or, less sinkancy in this case) which might explain why it is harder to raise it when out of the water. I just wish they made the rudder heavy like the c-board.
I am pretty sure the center board is weighted, using it's own weight to hold it down. Water is more dense than air, which may add a bit of boyancy (or, less sinkancy in this case) which might explain why it is harder to raise it when out of the water. I just wish they made the rudder heavy like the c-board.
goes down pretty easy
When lowering the centerboard, if I hold the line and ease it down, it really doesn't give much resistant (very little weight on the line), but it will go all the way down. If I just release the line from the full up position, the centerboard doesn't slam down like you think it would. Maybe it is really that heavy. The resistance when pulling up the centerboard does not really equal the "relative" ease with which it goes down. I have always lowered and raised the centerboard while motoring (not under sail). I am going to work with it in the slip and see what happens.
When lowering the centerboard, if I hold the line and ease it down, it really doesn't give much resistant (very little weight on the line), but it will go all the way down. If I just release the line from the full up position, the centerboard doesn't slam down like you think it would. Maybe it is really that heavy. The resistance when pulling up the centerboard does not really equal the "relative" ease with which it goes down. I have always lowered and raised the centerboard while motoring (not under sail). I am going to work with it in the slip and see what happens.
Lowering the centerboard
Have you looked at the centerboard slot? I had a gelcoat chip on the front edge of the slot due to dropping the centerboard. Now I ease it down rather than just dropping it.
Have you looked at the centerboard slot? I had a gelcoat chip on the front edge of the slot due to dropping the centerboard. Now I ease it down rather than just dropping it.
- Status