new centerboard

[Dan Nease]

This last Saturday (July 1) I ran aground while underway. Needless to say the centerboard split leading edge and trailing edge. The internal board (wood) was not broken, but we proceeded back with caution to the dock for an inspection. My question is should I repair or get a new centerboard? If new where could I get one. Also we took the opportunity to accurately measure our draft and discovered that we didn't need to put the board down all the way while sailing to windward. After we got the centerboard back up in the trunk(so it would trailer), we pulled out only 29" from the keel and went back out averaging 20-30 degrees of heel easily catching and passing a Catilina 25. So how much board is needed without laterally slipping through the water?

 

[Dan Nease]

model error

I just noticed that the model number on my posting is wrong. The correct model is a 1987 26d, Thanks Dan Nease

 

[L B Holub]

I repaired a 26S...

My former boat, a 26S (swing keel) split when the cable pulled through. Its all fiberglass, and easily repaired. The 26D (daggerboard) should be easy to replace or repair, as opposed to the 26S, which requires the boat to be hoisted from the trailer for board repairs.Dont forget to invest in a "depth finder"...especially with a dagger board set up--or keep an extra dagger board on hand.Happy Sailing...

 

[John S]

Daggerboard Repair

Dan,I have a D model, a 1987, too. I have already replaced my dboard with an IdaSailor dboard, made from solid HDPE plastic with a lot of lead in the bottm end. I decided not to repair my old dboard, because my wood was rotton and not adhereing to the insides of the fiberglass shell, which pretty much renders the wooden stringers useless. I'd like to think that the new airfoil shape has as much positive effect as the rudder I bought from IdaSailor, which was a big difference in pointing and resisting weather helm.As fas as how much dboard extension, I have been experimenting with that concept with a gps to measure speed in 1/10's of a MPH. I know for a fact that having the dboard all the way down or all the way up is a difference of 1 MPH while motoring. Downwind, you can pull the dboard all the way up and go faster, but you will find the boat more squirrely.As Louis stated, consider a depth finder or fishfinder with depth to avoid a ground strike when sailing in shallow water. I beach my boat all of the time and find the depth meter to be a great help in deciding when to set anchor, retract dboard and rudder, and when to jump over the side to pull the stern on the beach.John S Boise