Modifying centerboard

[Carl]

Sailing in the Atlantic can at times be rough when the wind hits 15 to 20 from anything east of north. That being said, one day with nothing to do but ponder the universe I thought about adding weight to the end of the board so I could carry more sail to get through the swells. Does anyone have any thoughts? Carl h240 Relentless

 

[Sean]

Wouldn't

Boat wasn't designed for bashing in the ocean. I've sailed in the ocean but when conditions suited the boat. Adding weight to the board would stress the raising gear. To add weight you would have to make the board longer or thicker at the bottom. Either would keep it from being raised into the trunk. If your primary sailing grounds are the open ocean you've got the wrong boat. If you sail primarily on lakes and bays you've got a great boat. Just my opinionSean Coerse1998 H240"Right Coerse"

 

[Tom Wootton]

Not only that...

...adding enough weight to make any difference at all in heeling performance would likely make the CB impossible to raise except by grounding or driving the boat onto the trailer, if then. The control line fastens to the board about 6 inches off the pivot point; the board's about 6 feet long. Any added weight at the end of the board (where it would work best as ballast) would be multiplied by a factor of 12 or thereabouts in terms of lifting force required on the uphaul.