Warped dagger board

[phughes200]

I have a sailboat (Zuma) with a wooden dagger board that is warped (curved side to side) on the end. Is there any way to fix this?

[SHNOOL]

Use it as a template to make another. Buy hardwood grade ply... do your best to fair the wood in the same places as the original. 4-6 coats of captains spar varnish, or cetol... and you are Good to go.

Or you could buy one APS - Zuma - Hull, Rudder & Daggerboard

[mitiempo]

I think epoxy before the varnish would be a good idea as it lives much of its life underwater.

[CalebD]

I would prefer to use solid Mahogany 1" x 8" rather then plywood.
$280 for a new dagger board at APS! You could make 10 of them for that amount of $$$.

[mitiempo]

Caleb

Solid wood is a lot more likely to warp than good plywood, even properly protected. That is the problem with the old board.

[CalebD]

Brian,

While that may be so it looks a lot better then most plywood. Plywood covered in epoxy would be the best long term solution as it would not warp. It might delaminate but it won't warp.

[mitiempo]

Unless the boat capsizes aren't the fish the only observers?

[phughes200]

I took another look at the blade. At the top where it would be in the hull when fully inserted appears flat. At the bottom, it is cupped such that there is a 3/16" gap at the center when a straight edge is placed accross the daggerboard width. I wonder if I could remove an 1/8" from the outer third of the width to restore the flatness. The daggerboard is 36"LX11"wX3/4"t. Does this sound doable?

[rexboatguy]

phughes200 good idea grind it flat coat it with coats of west systems epoxy so it wont warp again if that wont work use your old one for a templet find a lumber yard in your area that sells baltic burch plywood russian import plywood comes in 5foot x5 foot sheets cut it out with a jig saw router the edge round or hand sand smooth coat it with epoxy slap on a coat of anti foulent if needed go sail.

[mitiempo]

Baltic birch ply is not waterproof.