Oday 25 Centerboard Problems

[Terry]

I recently purchased an 80 Oday 25. My centerboard is stuck in the up positiona and even after cleaning some mud out its still stuck. a friend dove it and was trying to help and pulled a triangular looking fiberglass piece out from the bow end of the centerboard storage area. We think it probably holds a pin of some sort that the board swivels on. Does anyone have a schematic of the workings of an oday centerboard or some hands on experience with a similar problem? Thanks

 

[TeePee 22544]

Oh dear !!

I have no diagram, but the CB is supported by big plastic pin, which sits on top of a fiberglass triangle, which in turn sits on a stainless steel plate, that has two screws holding to the hull. It is a simple arrangement. You should be able to buy some flat stock metal bars from a hardware store to slide the FS first on one side of the CB and then on the other. I hope this helps.Tom

 

[Mike]

Most popular topic

I bet this is one of if not the most popular topic on this site: stuck centerboards on the Oday 22, 23 and 25. Check the archives for lots of help and advice. It sounds like your board is too stuck to be pushed down from above with a steel rod through the pennant line hole. There are two explanations for your problem that come to mind: barnacles have grown in the centerboard slot; or the fiberglass centerboard has absorbed so much water over the years it is too fat for the slot. My board stuck for years if I completely retracted it; last spring while out of the water, I used a new tool to scrape the inside of the slot higher than I had ever done so before. The result: the board freely swings even when fully retracted. If your board has become too waterlogged, there really is only one solution: a new board. Try Rudy at D&R Marine if that is the problem. He can make you a new board if necessary.