My 1968 Mariner obviously leaks around the centerboard bolt. I have never had it in the water refurbishing prior to launching I would like to correct that I am now cleaning and covering the iron centerboard with epoxy within the last few years I saw an article in which the author recommended drilling out the hole in the centerboard to !" or so and making a Delrin sleeve or bushing through which the bolt would pass. T his bushing would extend past the board itself essentially fro side to side of the trunk. The bolt w2ould thus compress the trunk sides against the bushing and not simply spring them in. Problem is I can't find the article now. Any ideas?
leaking centerboard bolt 1968 Mariner
- Thread starter Cary Andras
- Start date
What you describe is stock, as originally built, The CB on the MARINER pivots on a bronze bushing as far as I know, sized as you say to be longer that the CB is thick so that when you tighten the bolt the CB trunk compresses against the bushing not the CB. Maybe yours has become corroded into the CB? A call to Stuart Marine, current builder of the MARINER "might" get some info? I don't think a Delrin bushing would last long with the heavy, cast-iron CB pivoting on it, my DS II has a plastic bushing (Nylon?) exactly like you describe, but the CB on the DS II is fiberglass and the pivot hole in the board is very smooth.
I would look into replacing the gasket washers on your CB pivot bolt, they may be dried out and cracked. However, even still usable gaskets may need to swell a bit at the start of every season before they really stop weeping water. I know the CB pivot gasket on my old Widgeon (12'4") CB would need to swell a little each Spring before it stopped weeping.
I would look into replacing the gasket washers on your CB pivot bolt, they may be dried out and cracked. However, even still usable gaskets may need to swell a bit at the start of every season before they really stop weeping water. I know the CB pivot gasket on my old Widgeon (12'4") CB would need to swell a little each Spring before it stopped weeping.