leading edge on a centerboard.

[scott21050]

Merry Christmas all,

I have a 22 Hunter and it is that time to pull it out and go over the bottom.
I keep it in the water behind the house and the Trinadad Paint is good but the leading edge of the centerboard keeps getting the bottom paint scaped off from touching the sandy bottom getting in and out of my canal when the board is up. Then the barnacles start to grow.
Any way I was thinking of a sheet metal leading edge on the centerboard.
Any one else with experance on this or ideas?

Thanks

Scott

 

[Eric M]

Scott,

Unfortunately barnacles are going to attach to anything (wood, metal, fiberglass, etc) that is underwater and not painted with bottom paint. Not sure how much touching the sand you do on each trip in and out of your canal, but more coats of paint will take longer to wear away.
Good Luck,
--Eric

 

[Sam Salter]

How about sheet copper?
Never tried it, but it worked for those old square riggers!
sam

 

[RichBone]

Yeah, sheet copper could work. You might be able to epoxy it to the C/B leading edge.

Rich

 

[kendall]

Agree with the sheet copper. it's not cheap, but will not scrape off so easily.

How you mount it depends on board construction. Epoxy will work for most types, mush heads will work for others. you can get either plastic or zinc die cast to reduce corrosion factors.
http://www.google.com/products/cata...&safe=off&cid=13719742407588195908&sa=title#p

Wrap the sheet copper on it, then use a few ratchet straps to pull it tight against the board while the epoxy cures, or the holes are drilled.

Ken.