Centerboard damage.

[Tweegs]

We’d been having issues raising and lowering the CB. Towards the end of this season things got markedly worse. Thought I’d have the folks at the marina drop it at haul out and see what gives. Looks like a lot gave.

Before we pulled the pin, with the CB about ľ down, I grabbed the leading and aft edges and, without much effort, was able to move it laterally about a foot in each direction and twist it near the same amount. Little wonder we were having problems, not to mention just being slow. All kinds of lift and drag issues there, methinks.

Before haul out, my thought was to drop the board and toss it in the back of my truck. After seeing it I told them to keep it and give me an estimate. It’s beyond my feeble skills to repair.

What looks like rocks and mud in there is broken up resin with a dash of lake scum for seasoning. Lucky for us it didn’t rip clean out of there, wasn’t much left holding things together. It would have been one wild ride if it had; the control cable and line are in remarkably good condition.

We’ve never hit anything or run aground, but there is damage on the leading edge (we are the third owners). Figure that water got in there and the freeze/thaw cycle here on the lakes took its toll.

Not asking for any help here. Everyone has a morbid fascination when it comes to seeing damage, as long as it isn’t theirs.

Just thought I’d share.

[ATTACH][ATTACH][ATTACH][/ATTACH][/ATTACH][/ATTACH]

[CalebD]

Wow!
That is some major delamination going on with your CB.

Be prepared to pay through the nose if your 'yard' does the work for you. Labor rates of $80+/hr are not that unusual.

It might help to know what sailboat the CB is from and your general location (I assume lake, maybe Great Lake?). If you put your boat and location in your signature and profile I wouldn't be asking you these questions.

It is worth looking for used CBs for your boat on CL, Ebay or whatever, but not too likely you'd find a drop-in replacement.

If you are up for doing the work yourself then you could likely make a better than new replacement at home over the winter. Materials should cost well under $500, depending on how you do it.

Good luck with that board!

[eherlihy]

I don't know, but I suspect that the "rocks and mud" may have been ballast. It is not uncommon for manufacturers to use iron and cement encased in resin as ballast. It seems like water may have crept in there and between freeze/thaw and the formation of iron oxide, it broke the ballast into bite size pieces.

[Tweegs]

Perhaps there was some other stuff in there eherlihy, but I didn’t see any evidence of it, just bits of resin. The rudder bearing was cast out of pure resin also. I noticed it crumbling at haul out last year and made a new bearing out of Delrin pre-launch this year.

The boat is a 1980 Irwin Citation 39. Only 600 made, and at last check 400 still floating. There is only one boat like mine, that I know of, here on the lakes. Almost half of the floaters are across the pond. Not much chance of finding a replacement.

The guy working on the board is well known in the local race community. He comes highly recommended. Said it wouldn’t be huge repair bill, and didn’t seem to think it was as bad as it looked. We’ll wait for the estimate before committing, but that is a much larger glass job than I am comfortable doing. Something I’d rather have done by a pro.

[paulk]

Herlihy's suggestion sounds reasonable. After cleaning out all the loose stuff and letting everything dry out (perhaps giving it some help with hot air) it shouldn't be too difficult to refill with goop and and re-glass the joint while holding the two sides in place. Material may cost less than $100, add a couple of hours of work, and you'll be back in business. Be sure to grease things while they're accessible.

[Hudsonian]

I'd open it up to see whats going on further down the CB. After you see what's going on, you can assess what should be replaced and how to do it. None-the-less, I concur that it shouldn't be that big of a job.