Hunter 23 centerboard issue

[DPS53]

Purchased my first sailboatHunter 23 1985The centerboard raises and lowers using 2 ropesWhen time came to lower centerboard both ropes refused to budgeResult was that I had to dive over and pull board down from bottom of boatAny ideas or solutions?

 

[Mike Misko]

Centerboard Problems

Hunter changed the design and eliminated the centerboard fairly soon after the H23 came out. That may be why you are not getting responses. Check the archives, select the 23 from the drop down and put centerboard in the search criteria. When we had a small daysailer, our centerboard frequently jammed. Sometimes the line got stuck between the housing and the board. Other times I think the board just swelled up. We carried a rod to dislodge the board by pushing down from the cockpit. Called it the "Centerboard Poker." I have no idea how your setup is rigged, but was surprised to hear there were 2 lines. The ones I've used had a single line to raise the board and some kind of cam cleat to secure it in the up position. It went down by gravity when the line was released. Maybe your setup isn't rigged correctly?

 

[Jim Kneale]

The centerboard floats

We had the same problem with our H23. The centerboard floats, and you are fighting against that when trying to pull it down. I drilled some 1" holes in the bottom and filled it with lead shot and epoxy. I measured out the lead by floating it flat in the bathtub, holding the pivoting side underwater, and adding weight to the other end until it barely started to sink.I also smeared trailer axle grease on the areas where it scuffs off the anti-fouling paint where the centerboard rubs against the iron. That keeps the barnacles from growning on it and jamming it.I used a light duty 4:1 block and tackle to pull down, and just a line to pull it up. It still takes some muscle. If I hit something, I want it to break the block and tackle in an area that I can fix easily.