Stuck centeboard

[amontem]

Hi All,
I am unable to release my centerboard form its housing. My boat is an 1979 Irwin 34'Citation. The centerboard has been stuck in the up position for a number of years and may have swollen after some repairs were made. I previously tried (without success) prying it out with a thin bar and sticking a saw up into the housing and cleaning between the housing and centerboard.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what I may need to do to release it?
Thanks.
Tony

 

[NYSail]

I am assuming it is a fiberglass centerboard that pivots into the trunk... If you have tried to clean all around it and still it does not budge, maybe try screwing a large screw with an eye into the leading edge and tie a line and pull.

Also, can you expose the centerboard from the interior of the hull? On my Pearson 36-2, if I take the bottom sheeve housing off the hull (pendant run) I can see a small amount of the centerboard and could theoretically stick a bar into the hole and push the centerboard downwards.....

Good Luck. let us know how it goes.

Greg

 

[caruthers]

My cast iron keel was stuck in the cast iron trunk. I was told both had rusted, swollen and basically fused together and the situation was pretty much hopeless. Undeterred, I grabbed a dust mask and some goggles and went to work with a long hacksaw blade stuck up in between the keel and trunk sawing years of rust away. About an hour of sawing and a little prying and the keel was free. Not sure if this will work with a fg keel but just wanted to let you know where there's a will there's a way.

 

[NYSail]

Just make sure it is well supported prior to cutting....