I recently purchased a 2003 Hunter 240 that is fairly well equipped. However, there is no winch handle for the Lewmar winch. Is it common to use a winch handle for this purpose or is my centerboard simply difficult? Can this be obtained from Hunter directly? Thanks for any info provided.
Raising the Centerboard
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Centerboard
I have a 23.5 and it has a similar system and I have always found it difficult to raise the board using two hands, while standing on the starboard seat. It's quite a strain on the arms and back. I found that it helps a lot if the ship is pointing directly up or downwind while raising it.
I have a 23.5 and it has a similar system and I have always found it difficult to raise the board using two hands, while standing on the starboard seat. It's quite a strain on the arms and back. I found that it helps a lot if the ship is pointing directly up or downwind while raising it.
It depends on...
...how strong you are and what leverage you use. In my '94 h26, it can be hard to raise after dragging but usually not so bad as two hands won't do the trick. Check the sheaves (sp) by the mast base as the line can jump out or the sheave pin may slip. Depending where you are, growth can be a problem. Hopefully it's not corrosion or fittings lower down by the board. alan
...how strong you are and what leverage you use. In my '94 h26, it can be hard to raise after dragging but usually not so bad as two hands won't do the trick. Check the sheaves (sp) by the mast base as the line can jump out or the sheave pin may slip. Depending where you are, growth can be a problem. Hopefully it's not corrosion or fittings lower down by the board. alan
My 23.5
centerboard was very stiff and often required the winch to bring it up untill the day it broke. I replaced it with a used piece of braided nylon. Something like 12 point braid, single. ( no inner core ) Comes up now with moderate one handed pull or easy two handed pull. The origonal line was a double braid with inner core. BAD IDEA as the core starts sliding inside the the jacket as the line begins to wear. This creates lots of friction and little movement.
centerboard was very stiff and often required the winch to bring it up untill the day it broke. I replaced it with a used piece of braided nylon. Something like 12 point braid, single. ( no inner core ) Comes up now with moderate one handed pull or easy two handed pull. The origonal line was a double braid with inner core. BAD IDEA as the core starts sliding inside the the jacket as the line begins to wear. This creates lots of friction and little movement.
Don't Need It
Somwhere in the archives is a description on how to adjust it written by Crazy Dave. He has forgotten more about these boats than most of us will ever learn. When it is adjusted properly it is easier to raise. I have never used the winches for the jib let alone the handle. That is one item you do not need to worry about getting.
Somwhere in the archives is a description on how to adjust it written by Crazy Dave. He has forgotten more about these boats than most of us will ever learn. When it is adjusted properly it is easier to raise. I have never used the winches for the jib let alone the handle. That is one item you do not need to worry about getting.
Thanks everyone
Glad to hear that a winch handle is not required! My boat is on a mooring buoy so I can examine some of the points mentioned by everyone. I was concerned that the stress applied by a winch would result in the experience as expressed by Dennis. If you're available Dennis, I would like to know if you had to remove the centerboard to replace the line? The ~ 12 point braid with no inner core sounds like a good long term solution to reduce line failure. Thanks everyone for your input!
Glad to hear that a winch handle is not required! My boat is on a mooring buoy so I can examine some of the points mentioned by everyone. I was concerned that the stress applied by a winch would result in the experience as expressed by Dennis. If you're available Dennis, I would like to know if you had to remove the centerboard to replace the line? The ~ 12 point braid with no inner core sounds like a good long term solution to reduce line failure. Thanks everyone for your input!
Yes you must remove
the centerboard to replace the line. I did mine while in the water. What a pain!!! I did not have an air supply and the parts must be aligned to get back in place so I did a lot of huffing and puffing. Dropped all the parts twice and had to go down and find them. I was anchored in about 6 feet of water. If while your boat is in the water you take the centerboard bunks off the trailer, then load the boat on to the trailer I think you might be able to lower the board far enough to access the rope slot. I,m going to modify my board bunks so they can be removed with the boat loaded. Replace the line before it breaks; for your safety and so you'll have a line to pull the new line in with. By the way, do you have the small tackle system in place in the up-haul?
the centerboard to replace the line. I did mine while in the water. What a pain!!! I did not have an air supply and the parts must be aligned to get back in place so I did a lot of huffing and puffing. Dropped all the parts twice and had to go down and find them. I was anchored in about 6 feet of water. If while your boat is in the water you take the centerboard bunks off the trailer, then load the boat on to the trailer I think you might be able to lower the board far enough to access the rope slot. I,m going to modify my board bunks so they can be removed with the boat loaded. Replace the line before it breaks; for your safety and so you'll have a line to pull the new line in with. By the way, do you have the small tackle system in place in the up-haul?
I Wonder...
If you put the bolt on the centerboard bracket upside down (so it was facing up instead of down" and then used a nut on the inside of the boat it that would help to replace the centerboard with the boat in the water. Duck Tape on the bracket over hole for the pins help to hold those in. I think no matter what you do the axle will get in the way to do it on the trailer.
If you put the bolt on the centerboard bracket upside down (so it was facing up instead of down" and then used a nut on the inside of the boat it that would help to replace the centerboard with the boat in the water. Duck Tape on the bracket over hole for the pins help to hold those in. I think no matter what you do the axle will get in the way to do it on the trailer.
Nut is
as I recall, welded to the bracket; a U shaped assembly which wraps around upper end of center board and captures it with a large pin. Also is attachment for roller which is also mounted with a through pin. Yes to duct tape over the pins to prevent them from falling out or shifting off-center while you raise the bracket/centerboard back into the trunk. This lower roller is where the line's leverage is applied to the C.B. and where the failures occur.(23.5)
as I recall, welded to the bracket; a U shaped assembly which wraps around upper end of center board and captures it with a large pin. Also is attachment for roller which is also mounted with a through pin. Yes to duct tape over the pins to prevent them from falling out or shifting off-center while you raise the bracket/centerboard back into the trunk. This lower roller is where the line's leverage is applied to the C.B. and where the failures occur.(23.5)
Boat lift
The small tackle system is in place for the up-haul with all of the original rigging configurations. The boat was in a Wisconsin lake prior to my purchase this year. The boat is very clean, however there was significant dried mud on the trailer board bunks from that lake. Possibly part of the problem as the mud may have found it's way up into the centerboard housing and dried in there. Since the boat is being sailed from a mooring buoy this summer, I'll put it on a boat lift this fall and replace the line before it breaks as Dennis suggested. Thanks again!
The small tackle system is in place for the up-haul with all of the original rigging configurations. The boat was in a Wisconsin lake prior to my purchase this year. The boat is very clean, however there was significant dried mud on the trailer board bunks from that lake. Possibly part of the problem as the mud may have found it's way up into the centerboard housing and dried in there. Since the boat is being sailed from a mooring buoy this summer, I'll put it on a boat lift this fall and replace the line before it breaks as Dennis suggested. Thanks again!
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