stuck centerboard

[Joe]

Hi I just purchased a 23 Oday and the centerboard is stuck in the up position. I have been trying to get it looose with a saw (there are barnicles stuck up in there) btu it hasnt been really working out. I cant really pull it out of the water (have been going under with an air tank) any ideas how i could get it to come down?

 

[Mike]

A popular topic

You don't mention what year your 23 is; it makes a difference as the centerboards on the early 23's were controlled by a crank on the support post for the salon table, while the later models had the pennant led to the bridge deck in the cockpit. In either case, check the archives of this site for more postings on this topic than you will be able to stand. I have a later year model. When my board was stuck, I was able to unstick it while she was in the water by GENTLY inserting a 1/4 inch rod into the pennant line hole and gently down until the board was freed. Someone on this site recommended that strategy to me and it worked great a couple of times for me. since then, I read other posts here where some have tried that method and wound up rupturing the pennant sleeve and flooding their boats. Make sure the shackle attaching the pennant to the board isn't too big for the centerboard slot too.

 

[Keith823]

You are not alone

I agree with the reluctance to push through the hole from above.I have the earlier model, with the crank in the table post. Be sure that the pennant line/cable is actually unwound and released. I have had a couple occassions where a lunar tide packed mud into the centerboard slot, and I was able to free the board by probing the area on both sides of the board with a 1/4" rod with a hook bent into the end. I have used the saw idea when out of water to assure the interior of my cast iron keel slot is clear. But in the water, I have had more luck clearing debris out of the slot using the hooked rod. It takes some time, but usually results is a rewarding downward swing of the board when the offending mud is clear enough. There is room at the end to get a narrow strap up and over the end of the centerboard, if you think you have cleared obstructions on the sides, and you need to overcome the friction of a jammed pennant shackle or similar. Good luck.

 

[Jim]

Give it a bang

I have an Oday 23 now undergoing a refit, the centerboard was permantly stuck, we sawed, scraped, chiseled and the only thing that worked was taking a 6 lb. mall and banging it upward into the keel, by doing so we loosened the cement (marine life that died and hardened) and wash it out with a hose, it took a while so be prepared.

 

[bruce cornell]

centerboard release

pour miratic acid thru cable hole and let acid disolve marine life, and/or spray up into slot with a weed sprayer from under side.