Dyer Dhow

[kevinweyl]

I am looking for a used (or new...) center board for a 9' Dyer Dhow ('68)

Doesn't have to be genuine Dyer as I am not restoring...just want to sail her!

Thanks...

Kevin

413-575-7938
kevin.weyl@gmail.com
Madison, CT

[Michael K]

Why not build one? Lowes sells cedar boards; cut to shape, epoxy and glass. For a really nice handle on top go to Home Depot and get a foot long piece of oak bannister.

[paulk]

Better bet might be some plywood: less chance of warpage after it's been put together. Two sheets, screwed/glued together cutout for counterweight and also hole for control lever, glass it up, paint, & done.

[CalebD]

Kevin,
A friend of mine has an old DD (8' I think) that I made a center board (CB) for. During the time I had to research this (about 2 years, believe it or not) I discovered that DD can a few variations for the CB. My friends DD had a dagger board type CB (plunges straight down) but some have a trunk that the CB can be raised into and tucks into (I'll attach a pic of this type).
If you research the Mystic Seaport Museum's website you will find they operate a fleet of 50 DD's for a youth sailing program.
I used 1/2" plywood for the CB stock (admittedly not the best choice for this application - but cheap) and coated it with marine epoxy. Another coat of epoxy with cloth would have been the way to go but maybe I'll get around to that.

[bljones]

Or, you could buy one from Dyer directly.

http://www.dyerboats.com/DDPartsPriceListMay2008.pdf

[kevinweyl]

Thanks guys for the great info...especially CalebD (love the Gilligan shot!) for the picture and specs...I'll try to make one...any other leads and/or ideas will be welcome here...water's gettin' warmer here off the Connecticut Shoreline and the air too...need to get 'er in!!!

[Jeff_H]

One word of caution. Having made wooden centerboards, they tend to float up if not weighted. There are several tricks for weighing a centerboard, but traditionally the weight was a lead or bronze puck. When I had to make a lead puck I have melted down spent bullets gotten from a shooting range or old wheel weights from a tire store. The trick is to make a mold with a hole saw, and use the same hole saw to make the hole in the rudder.

Jeff

[CalebD]

Originally Posted by bljones

Or, you could buy one from Dyer directly.

http://www.dyerboats.com/DDPartsPriceListMay2008.pdf

I was going to mention this but the prices of replacement genuine DD parts are pretty high.

To give credit where credit is due I got that photo from a fellow named Matt who is involved with the youth sailing program at Mystic Seaport. If you are in CT you should check them out.
Mystic Seaport: The Museum of America and the Sea™ : Community Sailing Classes (Ages 8-14)

[paulk]

The 8' Dyer Dinghy with a daggerboard is NOT the same boat as the 9' Dyer Dhow. Caleb's design with the attached handle on top might work in the standard Dyer Dhow, but would require slitting the upper edge of the centerboard trunk to admit the handle. The standard Dhow setup has a separate handle attached to the side of the trunk for raising & lowering the board, and a squared hole in the board to engage the side handle and to serve as the pivot point. Jeff's suggestion to use a hole saw bit to make both the hole in the centerboard and to mold the counterweight itself is elegant.

[fallard]

I've picked up a retired Dyer Dhow from Mystic Seaport via sealed bid at least 30 years ago. It was at least 10 years old when I acquired it. It has what I believe to be the original plywood centerboard. This is such a simple part, it is probably worth your while to buy a replacement from the Dyer folks.

It is not weighted, by the way. I keep it from kicking up by the use of a knotted light weight bungie cord secured on the thwart seat. You pull the centerboard handle to the upright position and loop the elastic cord and that's it!. I paint it every 15 years, whether it needs it or not.

I've had the Dyer folks (dba The Anchorage, Inc.)replace my oak rub rail twice, and they are not cheap, but they know what they are doing and are reasonable to deal with. A new centerboard, with a bronze insert (presumably to keep the pivot pin from chewing up the plywood) for the 9' Dyer Dhow is $138, per the currently-posted price list (www.dyerboats.com/DDPartsPriceListMay2008.pdf). You can also call them to discuss options--maybe even a used centerboard--at (401) 245-3300. (For the record, I have no connection with The Anchorage, inc., other that being a satisfied customer.)