I have a Mariner CB on a bay in Down East Maine. Sailing has been great this year--very little fog. She's on a mooring. After I put the boat on the hook today, I tried to raise the centerboard and it was quite stiff to bring up. When I tried to release it back down, it wouldn't drop. We have lots of sea vegetation here and I'm think that maybe the CB trunk is jammed with seaweed. What to do? I need to get her off the water this week, but I won't be able to put her on the trailer if the CB is down even a little. Is it possible for the cable to get jammed? You might imagine that swimming in 58 degree water isn't that appealing. All ideas are appreciated.
Mariner centerboard won't drop
- Thread starter 1brhoads
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You could do one or two things. Have the boat raised and put on stands and blocks at a boat yard and scrape the rust or growth off the centerboard.
Another thing you can do is try load it on the trailer while someone is winching the board up inside the boat. If you're able to get it on the trailer, you'll need to try and get the boat off the trailer after you get it home. This can be accomplished by raising and shoring up under the stern so that it doesn't tip over. Jack up under the bow from the ground and try rolling the trailer ahead a little at a time as the trailer's cross members permit.
I'm able to do this with a keel/centerboard O'Day 222 every year so the centerboard sloop should be a little easier. The process is easier if you have some sailboat stands. Two sailboat stands can lift the stern of the boat right off the trailer. It's a good idea to block up under the stern and bow of the boat with wood blocks after the boat is off the trailer.
Another thing you can do is try load it on the trailer while someone is winching the board up inside the boat. If you're able to get it on the trailer, you'll need to try and get the boat off the trailer after you get it home. This can be accomplished by raising and shoring up under the stern so that it doesn't tip over. Jack up under the bow from the ground and try rolling the trailer ahead a little at a time as the trailer's cross members permit.
I'm able to do this with a keel/centerboard O'Day 222 every year so the centerboard sloop should be a little easier. The process is easier if you have some sailboat stands. Two sailboat stands can lift the stern of the boat right off the trailer. It's a good idea to block up under the stern and bow of the boat with wood blocks after the boat is off the trailer.
It might be possible to leave just a slight amount of slack in the CB pendant and then leave her on the mooring for a day or two. The normal rolling on the mooring might "jar" the CB loose? Other idea...... with the CB pendant just slightly slack, try going for a short run under power. That again might be enough to jar the CB loose and maybe wash out what is preventing the CB from retracting fully. I've used these techniques on my DS II.....but she has a fiberglass centerboard (weight in the 25-30# range) not the 165# CB of the Mariner (weight of CB should make the idea work better....but not sure what shock-load that miight place on the cable, thus the suggestion of only "slightly" slack, and let out gradually as CB shakes loose.). Do you have any friends who dive? Maybe access to a wetsuit (drysuit is better, but??), otherwise, my only thought is to have the boat hauled by crane or travel-lift to unstick the CB.
Here's a site you can check out. http://www.usmariner.org/ There's a pdf "How to" guide on this site that is pretty interesting.
I guess my instincts are good because I tried both ideal. I motored around with slack in the pendant which didn't seem to do much--yet. I also left slack in the pendant when I left the boat. I am hoping that the weight of the CB will help if fall on its own. I don't think that there's any sort of growth on the CB as the water is very cold and she's been on the water for only a month. I expect it's jammed with seaweed.
I don't dive, but if you do and you're in the area, lobster is cheap and I'll spring for that and the beer!
I don't dive, but if you do and you're in the area, lobster is cheap and I'll spring for that and the beer!
Maybe I can help
I have an O'day 25 CB. When I bought it the center board line had broken and I needed to pull it up to get it out of the water. I used a heavy duty ratchet strap, started at the bow and walked the strap back to stern (someone will need to help you on the other side). Once you feel the strap touch the centerboard you can work it up into the slot and ratchet it in place on your stantion.
The replacement line has a shackle on the end that likes to get stuck in the hole, and jam the centerboard in the slot. Motoring around and all that doesnt seem to work for me, but I have used an electricians snake to get it free from the topside. If you need more pressure you might have to swim under and dislodge it the old fashioned way.
I have an O'day 25 CB. When I bought it the center board line had broken and I needed to pull it up to get it out of the water. I used a heavy duty ratchet strap, started at the bow and walked the strap back to stern (someone will need to help you on the other side). Once you feel the strap touch the centerboard you can work it up into the slot and ratchet it in place on your stantion.
The replacement line has a shackle on the end that likes to get stuck in the hole, and jam the centerboard in the slot. Motoring around and all that doesnt seem to work for me, but I have used an electricians snake to get it free from the topside. If you need more pressure you might have to swim under and dislodge it the old fashioned way.
Mariner CB weighs 165# and his is stuck UP, it won't go down. See pic below of Mariner CB, usually no shackle.
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I have a Rhodes 19 that has the same centerboard setup as the Mariner. On mine (1963 vintage) there is a plate over the place where the cable goes down to the CB with the winch reel forward. Later boats the winch reel is lined up with the cable. If you have a plate there, you might be able to remove it and see where and what is jamming the CB.
Something you might want to consider to fix the problem is to careen the boat since the water is too cold to go swimming in. I had to careen my Day Sailer II (with help from those who had done it before) during the 2011 Texas 200 to free up a jammed CB. The jam was caused by weeds and mud.
To careen the boat, move it to the shoreline, beach area if possible. Use the main halyard (make both ends are secured to each other) to pull the boat over on it's side. It is easier if you remove anything heavy from the boat. Once on it's side either have someone hold the mast down or put some weights on the mast head to hold it down, it shouldn't take much weight or force. Once the boat is on it's side you'll be able to get the centerboard out and clean obstructions out of the CB trunk. When I did the DS2 someone had a bottle with a nozzle end we sprayed up in there. It took about 15 minutes to fix the CB on the DS2. Once done, take the weight off the masthead and right the boat while letting up on the main halyard. The mast provides a lot leverage.
John
Something you might want to consider to fix the problem is to careen the boat since the water is too cold to go swimming in. I had to careen my Day Sailer II (with help from those who had done it before) during the 2011 Texas 200 to free up a jammed CB. The jam was caused by weeds and mud.
To careen the boat, move it to the shoreline, beach area if possible. Use the main halyard (make both ends are secured to each other) to pull the boat over on it's side. It is easier if you remove anything heavy from the boat. Once on it's side either have someone hold the mast down or put some weights on the mast head to hold it down, it shouldn't take much weight or force. Once the boat is on it's side you'll be able to get the centerboard out and clean obstructions out of the CB trunk. When I did the DS2 someone had a bottle with a nozzle end we sprayed up in there. It took about 15 minutes to fix the CB on the DS2. Once done, take the weight off the masthead and right the boat while letting up on the main halyard. The mast provides a lot leverage.
John
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