Centerboard stuck?

capterry · #1 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006

I just bought a 1969 31' Irwin Classic, boat is in great shape, ready to go! but the centerboard is stuck and won't go down. The guy I bought the boat from said, there was a rough place in the centerboard well that the board, if you raised it to far would hang on it??????? He said to jump in and pry it over with a screwdriver!?? Dang, the water is to cold to do that!!!!!!! Does anyone know how to fix this while the boat is in the water?
Thanks Capt. Terry

sailingfool · #2 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by capterry

I just bought a 1969 31' Irwin Classic, boat is in great shape, ready to go! but the centerboard is stuck and won't go down. The guy I bought the boat from said, there was a rough place in the centerboard well that the board, if you raised it to far would hang on it??????? He said to jump in and pry it over with a screwdriver!?? Dang, the water is to cold to do that!!!!!!! Does anyone know how to fix this while the boat is in the water?
Thanks Capt. Terry

Hire a diver.

Good luck.

Artwerke · #3 (**permalink**) 11-04-2006

Capt. Terry, I've got a 1970 38' Irwin, if your centerboard works like mine, it has a stuffing box with a plastic( Derlin) rod through it above the centerboard, if the box is too tight, mine was when I bought it, the centerboard weight doesn't overcome the extra friction. I loosened the packing nut and down she came. Art.