information
The centerboard line or sometimes referred to Cascade should be changed out after 7-8 years depending on usage. If little, you can go longer. If it is frayed or simply getting too stiff, then replace with a softer line of yacht braid quality. Some did it with three strand which was not a smart move. The boat has to be lifted. Remove the cover plates at the base of the compression post. Remove large bolt. Wiggle the centerboard and housing to get it to come out. Make sure to attach a tracer line to the centerboard line when pulling thru. Rebolting, you must be careful. Use a lubricant on the threads and make sure it is aligned when screwing in. If not, the bolt will sieze up and then you have to order a new bracket, so make sure the bolt is aligned. Then place 5200 sealant around the bolt head. The water intrusion in this area came from two areas. The first were two bolt holes for #10 bolts to secure the compression post into the pipe attached to the plate the bolt rests upon. Later years of the 260 did not have this. If bolts are missing one on front and the other on the back, simply screw the new bolts in and of course caulk them. The other source was between that plate mentioned and the fiberglass hull which the plate rests on. Simply remove the old caulk and replace with 5200 of course. I hope this will help you. I have allot of experince on these boats.
