Widgeon center board question

[newwidgeonguy]

Greetings to all. Just found this forum and looking forward to benefitting from the collective wisdom just oozing from every pixel here!

As my nom de plume would lead you to believe, I've recently purchased a Widgeon. It's a '77 model, solid overall and appears to be a great way to begin this wondrous journey. Last weekend, Number One Son and I launched, sailed and recovered successfully (although no one would describe our Laurel and Hardy rigging methods as poetry in motion) for the shakedown cruise. Nothing fell off, pierced any flesh, tipped over, was crushed or spindled, nor in any other fashion did we experience anything other than a pleasant Saturday morn on the Bay. However, after about an hour on the water I noticed a small weeping drip coming from around the bolt/pivot on the side of the centerboard trunk. Just a slow, steady drip that would well up and slide down, like a single tear from the eye of a young maiden who had just heard that One Direction is actually a bunch of ag school welders from Cleveland, and they did the whole thing on a dare.

So, is this a big deal, or an easy fix, or a "don't worry about it and just enjoy the ride" kind of thing?

 

[Sunbird22358]

Well, how long had this boat been in "drydock"? The rubber washers that seal the pivot bolt dry out after a while and will seep a bit until they swell up a bit. My old Widgeon was a 1969 with the lever-operated CB, but every spring it would take a day or so of wet to stop that drip, then it was fine for the season.
So, it doesn't sound SERIOUS ,but keep an eye on it.
In the meantime, you could try tightening the bolt a bit (CB actually pivots on a plastic bushing that is clamped in by the pivot bolt that goes through the bushing. That bushing is [or Should be] slightly longer than the Cb is thick and so the bolt can't lock the CB in)
Second, you could loosen the bolt with the boat on the trailer and apply a thin coat of silicone sealant between hte rubber washers and the side of the CB trunk. Let cure, then snug the bolt back up.
My DS II has the same basic CB setup, sometimes drips slighlty early in the season.

I have an expanded version of the original Owners Manual that I have copied for other owners before. If you would like to get a copy let me know. I have a copy of the 1977 brochure that I will include (just the Widgeon-related pages). The manual has many diagrams including the layout of the CB control lines.

 

[newwidgeonguy]

Thanks for the input. She'd been out of the water for over a year, so the dry-out may be the issue. I'll give the bolt a little torque and see if that sets it.

On the owner's manual issue, the previous owner supplied me with a repro packet of some original Widgeon brochures, data sheets, etc. He told me he had ordered it from a fine chap he got in contact with through a website, and there is a Plainville/mansfield, mass. post mark dated '07 on the envelope he gave me, so it may have come from you already! Thanks for the help.

 

[Sunbird22358]

Yes, that was me! I'll check to see what I've updated since then, if anything important I'll e-mail to you.
I live in Plainville, but often use the Mansfield Post Office (they have a 24-hour "ATM" for mailing).

 

[VicVermont]

Newbie and can't figure out new question method.
I can't get my Widegon centerboard to fully retract. The top line does get it up but not all the way. The one closest to the mast doesn't seem to do anything. I'm new to this boat so I'm confused. Help please.

 

[Sunbird22358]

Gee, I just assisted another WIDGEON owner last weekend with the same problem! I'll post a diagram of the CB rigging below, I suspect something is rigged wrong. The guy that I helped recently was missing a line and someone had rigged the up-line to the down line and when he tried to raise the CB the line was pulling both up and down......didn't work!
Your UP-Line may be too long? You can approximate lengths from the diagrams, I think?
These diagrams are included in my Owners Manual.

 

[glass]

Would appreciate Widgen-related pages. Actually am interested in the rigging of the centerboard control lines. My centerboard is "dragging" some.
You can reach me at: harveyglass@gmail.com.
Thanks.

I have an expanded version of the original Owners Manual that I have copied for other owners before. If you would like to get a copy let me know. I have a copy of the 1977 brochure that I will include (just the Widgeon-related pages). The manual has many diagrams including the layout of the CB control lines.[/QUOTE]

 

[glass]

Wow! Am very grateful. This is absolutely perfect

Thanks again,
Harvey Glass

 

[Sunbird22358]

Harvey, did you wish to order a copy of the Expanded Manual?

Click on my user name and you can send a message direct.