I bought a used Hunter 19-2. All the lines where dry rotted. Especially the line going to the centerboard (keel). The best way to replace that center board line is to take the boat somewhere that has the proper equipment to lift the boat with a crane, and straps, because the boat has to be about 4 feet off the ground. I really couldn't figure out a safe way to jack up the boat in my driveway. Once the boat is high enough, It is a piece of cake to change out the line. There is a 3/4 inch bolt inside the boat that holds the centerboard assembly on. Take out that bolt, and the whole center board assembly should come out the bottom of the boat. It takes two people. One to take out the bolt inside the boat, and another to catch the centerboard assembly on the bottom of the boat. My centerboard assembly was stuck in the boat, and did not drop when I took out the bolt. So what I did was screw in a longer 3/4 inch bolt, about 6" long, and tap on the head of that bolt with a hammer, until the centerboard assembly dropped out the bottom. Once the centerboard assembly drops out, it is easy to change out the line. Once you change out the line, push the center board assembly back in the boat, and tighten up the 3/4 inch bolt, and you are done. Then just lower the boat back on the trailer. Piece of cake! You can either pay somebody to do the whole job, which probably won't be cheap, or you can ask them to raise the boat off the ground, while you and a friend drop the centerboard and do all the work, which is what I did. I fix air conditioners for a living. The place I went to needed his A/C fixed at his house. So I fixed his A/C, and he let me use his crane. I just I had to pay for the replacement line, so I got off cheap. I also replaced all the lines on the mast while I was there. I just have to fix a couple of more things on the boat, before the boat is lake ready, but they are minor.
Replacing The centerboard line on a Hunter 19-2
- Thread starter Panotaker
- Start date
Yeah, it is the same exact way. Only thing I did different is, I didn't remove the whole center board assembly out of the bottom of the boat. Since I used a 6 inch long, 3/4 inch bolt, I left that bolt on the center board assembly, and just lowered the center board assembly, until it was supported by that long bolt. That was low enough to give me access to the pivoting pin on the center board. Then I knocked out the pivoting pin on center board, and took the center board off, but you can do it either way. Once the center board is removed, I changed out the line just like your article says, and put everything back together again. It's pretty easy to do, you just need a $50,000 boat crane.
One weird thing on my boat was, that the 3/4" bolt was missing. I guess the previous owner started to take the center board apart, but couldn't figure out how to do it, so he just quit messing with it, and never put the 3/4" bolt back. That is probably why he sold the boat. There is no way he could have sailed that boat without that 3/4" bolt in there. The whole keel assembly would have fell in the lake! I put a new 3/4" bolt in there, and it is held on securely now. I cleaned out the boat when I bought it a few days ago, and could not find that bolt. So I don't know what he did with it.
One weird thing on my boat was, that the 3/4" bolt was missing. I guess the previous owner started to take the center board apart, but couldn't figure out how to do it, so he just quit messing with it, and never put the 3/4" bolt back. That is probably why he sold the boat. There is no way he could have sailed that boat without that 3/4" bolt in there. The whole keel assembly would have fell in the lake! I put a new 3/4" bolt in there, and it is held on securely now. I cleaned out the boat when I bought it a few days ago, and could not find that bolt. So I don't know what he did with it.
I showed @rgranger and @Kermit with the 26 and 260 how to do that. Rgranger did put instructions on the site which I thanked him
To get the centerboard out, you wiggle the centerboard while pulling down. Two things holding the centerboard other than the bolt are first there is a tight fit of the centerboard bracket and 5200 sealant. No need to add that 5200 but rather put a bead around the top of the bolt head inside to keep water from coming in via bolt hole.
Also so if there is a hole in the pipe welded to the inside bracket that contains the metal compression post of the 26/260. If none a number 10 bolt goes in. There is a hole on the backside. On the later 260, hunter did away with those two small #10 holes
To get the centerboard out, you wiggle the centerboard while pulling down. Two things holding the centerboard other than the bolt are first there is a tight fit of the centerboard bracket and 5200 sealant. No need to add that 5200 but rather put a bead around the top of the bolt head inside to keep water from coming in via bolt hole.
Also so if there is a hole in the pipe welded to the inside bracket that contains the metal compression post of the 26/260. If none a number 10 bolt goes in. There is a hole on the backside. On the later 260, hunter did away with those two small #10 holes
Mine didn't come out by wiggling it, I tried that. I had to tap on the longer bolt from the inside to get it to drop. I didn't seal that bolt from the inside, so I will back it back out and reseal it. Thanks for the tip.
I sent a private message as it appears a mistake will happen. Trying to stop you in advance. Will post after I talk with the poster
Crazy Dave
Crazy Dave
For those following, I talked to Crazy Dave, and he told me what to do. I just have to seal the 3/4" bolt head, to the inside of the hull, by just simply running a bead around the head of the bolt, AFTER it is tightened down. Do not put sealant on the threads. Thanks again Dave.