The centerboard on my OD 25 is stuck up. Anybody experience this before? Is there a right proper cure? How can I get it out? Is the center board supposed to retract fully into the centerboard case? For storage could I set the boat down on its keel with the board safely and fully retracted? I have two suspicians for the cause of this dilemma: The centerboard was partially down when I was lowering it onto the trailer. As the boat settled on the trailer, the centerboard swung up and the cable got jammed between the centerboard and the case. Zebra mussels made a home in the centerboard trunk and jammed the centerboard as it came up. I posted a couple pics of the boat. You can see the partially retracted board. TO Charlie Newman: I intend on removing my center board to resolve this problem. If you want pics of the board, then please let me know. Finally how do I take the centerboard out?
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Don Evans
"I Got Those Centreboard Blues"
Oh boy, baptizime by fire. I think every Oday owner with a CB has had some problem or another with the board. Your surmize of zebra mussels is bang on. The width of that CB slot is barely wide enough to fit the CB, so once a few of these mullosks make a home your dealing with a jammed CB. Since it is on the trailor, and winter fast approaches I would not worry about it until next spring. Then your into lifting the boat and dropping the board. If my memory is correct, Phill Morris, your previous boats owner, documented the removal of the board. Have a chat with him first. I have not done the job myself but have read enough about the process. It involves removing cover plates on either side of the upper stump keel, pulling wedges that support the delrin rod, which the CB pivots on, pulling the pin and dropping the board. While your at it you may want to replace the shackle that holds the pennant to the board. Let us know when you decide to do the job and we can provide support ... from the sidelines 8^) Don
Oh boy, baptizime by fire. I think every Oday owner with a CB has had some problem or another with the board. Your surmize of zebra mussels is bang on. The width of that CB slot is barely wide enough to fit the CB, so once a few of these mullosks make a home your dealing with a jammed CB. Since it is on the trailor, and winter fast approaches I would not worry about it until next spring. Then your into lifting the boat and dropping the board. If my memory is correct, Phill Morris, your previous boats owner, documented the removal of the board. Have a chat with him first. I have not done the job myself but have read enough about the process. It involves removing cover plates on either side of the upper stump keel, pulling wedges that support the delrin rod, which the CB pivots on, pulling the pin and dropping the board. While your at it you may want to replace the shackle that holds the pennant to the board. Let us know when you decide to do the job and we can provide support ... from the sidelines 8^) Don
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JT
stuck centerboard
I have an O'Day 23 and my CB ocassionally sticks in the up position. I keep a 4' piece of an electrical grounding rod on my boat to free up the CB. The rod is about 1/2" dia. and easily fits down the CB post between the cable. A careful nudge frees it up.
I have an O'Day 23 and my CB ocassionally sticks in the up position. I keep a 4' piece of an electrical grounding rod on my boat to free up the CB. The rod is about 1/2" dia. and easily fits down the CB post between the cable. A careful nudge frees it up.
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Don Evans
Here is Phills' Response
Gary, I found this in my email archive. It was written over a year ago by Phill to another O'Day owner, from the sailnet email list server for O'Day boats. It was one of the better replys I have seen written on the CB removal for our boats. Hope it helps. Don "The centerboard on my 1977 O'Day 25 has a hole through it near the top leading edgewhich a nylon rod is fitted to act as a pivot. The ends of rod slide up into vertical slots in either side of the trunk and are prevented from dropping by fiberglass wedges which slide into the slots and are held in place by stainless steel plates screwed into the lower surface of the trunk. Wear on the nylon rod is minimal. Only way to examine is at haulout. With the boat on a hoist and supported on stands the plates can be removed and the wedges and centerboard removed. I doubt that it would drop out unless the (machine) screws loosened. I use Loctite on the threads just in case. Keep the cb up on downwind sailing --it just acts drag. My centerboard also stuck if it was fully retracted. I marked the pendant with magic marker so I don't pull the board up too far. I have almost cured the problem which in my case was too little clearance between the top trailing edge of the cb and the trunk made worse by water getting into the cb. I removed the cb, dried it thouroughly over the winter ground off the seams where water was getting in and epoxied them. I then ground down the faces of the board only in the area where it was binding and faired the surfaces with epoxy to provide about 1/8" per side extra clearance. The result is that the board doesnt stick unless I pull it up fully and then just normal wave action will release it. Hope this helps."
Gary, I found this in my email archive. It was written over a year ago by Phill to another O'Day owner, from the sailnet email list server for O'Day boats. It was one of the better replys I have seen written on the CB removal for our boats. Hope it helps. Don "The centerboard on my 1977 O'Day 25 has a hole through it near the top leading edgewhich a nylon rod is fitted to act as a pivot. The ends of rod slide up into vertical slots in either side of the trunk and are prevented from dropping by fiberglass wedges which slide into the slots and are held in place by stainless steel plates screwed into the lower surface of the trunk. Wear on the nylon rod is minimal. Only way to examine is at haulout. With the boat on a hoist and supported on stands the plates can be removed and the wedges and centerboard removed. I doubt that it would drop out unless the (machine) screws loosened. I use Loctite on the threads just in case. Keep the cb up on downwind sailing --it just acts drag. My centerboard also stuck if it was fully retracted. I marked the pendant with magic marker so I don't pull the board up too far. I have almost cured the problem which in my case was too little clearance between the top trailing edge of the cb and the trunk made worse by water getting into the cb. I removed the cb, dried it thouroughly over the winter ground off the seams where water was getting in and epoxied them. I then ground down the faces of the board only in the area where it was binding and faired the surfaces with epoxy to provide about 1/8" per side extra clearance. The result is that the board doesnt stick unless I pull it up fully and then just normal wave action will release it. Hope this helps."
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Mike QUInn
Centerboard up !!!
his summer i had the same problem, After a sail home from Nantucket I forgot to crank up the board, having a young family I did not return to the Free Spirit for a few weeks. As I cranked it up it got stuck. After an afternoon sail I achored up and dovein for a look. With a mask on and a paint scraper I was able to remove some baracles that had attached in the center board trunk, after I got it down i had another oerson with me, He cranked in the board and let it down several times, By scraping up into the trunk I was able to get the board free and working again with no further problems,. Good luck I have a 1975 )-day 25
his summer i had the same problem, After a sail home from Nantucket I forgot to crank up the board, having a young family I did not return to the Free Spirit for a few weeks. As I cranked it up it got stuck. After an afternoon sail I achored up and dovein for a look. With a mask on and a paint scraper I was able to remove some baracles that had attached in the center board trunk, after I got it down i had another oerson with me, He cranked in the board and let it down several times, By scraping up into the trunk I was able to get the board free and working again with no further problems,. Good luck I have a 1975 )-day 25
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Mike
@#$%*& Centerboards
The board on my 23 stuck on my maiden voyage with her this spring. After going through the expense of hauling the boat to free the board, just to have it stick up again, I sought advice here. J.T.'s advice is right on. I use a four foot rod of rolled steel that I got at the hardware store for $1.89.
The board on my 23 stuck on my maiden voyage with her this spring. After going through the expense of hauling the boat to free the board, just to have it stick up again, I sought advice here. J.T.'s advice is right on. I use a four foot rod of rolled steel that I got at the hardware store for $1.89.
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Gary B
Board is out
I pulled the boat out for winter storage and removed the board in the process. With the boat still in the slings, I set up portable stands around the boat which is neccessary by club rules. The boat was set so that it was lightly resting on a couple 6X6 blocks on each side of the center board. I removed the wedges as per the description written by Phil. You'll need a large common screwdriver. (Common screws! When will the Americans learn that Robertson is the only way to go!) The board was wedged in tight and with some huffing puffing and a shot of beer we managed to pull her down. The problem? The board is too wide for the trunk. It is rubbing on both sides. My gut feel is that it has expanded perhaps due to oxidation or moisture. She's going to need a good grind and polish. The second thing is the nylon pivot pin. It is slightly worn and not true anymore. It could be causing the centerboard to swing up out of alignment and bind. It'll be renewed. Cheers, Gary
I pulled the boat out for winter storage and removed the board in the process. With the boat still in the slings, I set up portable stands around the boat which is neccessary by club rules. The boat was set so that it was lightly resting on a couple 6X6 blocks on each side of the center board. I removed the wedges as per the description written by Phil. You'll need a large common screwdriver. (Common screws! When will the Americans learn that Robertson is the only way to go!) The board was wedged in tight and with some huffing puffing and a shot of beer we managed to pull her down. The problem? The board is too wide for the trunk. It is rubbing on both sides. My gut feel is that it has expanded perhaps due to oxidation or moisture. She's going to need a good grind and polish. The second thing is the nylon pivot pin. It is slightly worn and not true anymore. It could be causing the centerboard to swing up out of alignment and bind. It'll be renewed. Cheers, Gary
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