Center Board Stuck Down

[Tom F.]

My center board will not go all the way up on my 26X. With about 3-4 inches of rope pull left, the center board appears to be hitting something that is preventing it from going all the way into the slot. I know it is not all the way up because at high speed the boat starts to "sail" and pull hard to starboard. I assume there is something stuck in the slot but it is such a thin area, I did not really think that could happen. I am in the Potomac River so pollution and an in water visibility of about 2-3 inches is preventing me from jumping in a taking a look. Anyone have this happen to them before? Should I be looking at something else that is preventing the baord from retracting (the rope is in good condition)?

[Chinook]

I once had a small diameter piece of driftwood slip up into the centerboard slot, which caused the board to jam in the upright position. A piece of flotsam such as driftwood, plastic or foam could get caught in the slot, and could be the cause of your problem. You may need to get the boat clear of the trailer enough to lower the board and visually inspect the slot for obstructing debris.

[K9Kampers]

...and can even access for inspection in the (shallow) water...

[Keel_Hauled]

Then again, your near DC so it could be a body... Pull it out of the water and smell around the area. If it smells bad- prostitute. If it sends you into uncontrollable convulsive dry heaves- politician

~K

[DaveB]

I keep my centerboard down about 8 inches to act as a skeg for direction control at 14 knots. If you measured your centerboard line and taped it with board up than line does streach. Mine is 3 inches from when I installed it 3 years ago.
On the Trailer mark were board is all the way up. That way you know how much line to release for any given depth. ( 10 inches down on my boat equels 2- 3 inch reduction of centerboard line.
If you have the old wire to rope connection you probably will find deep groves in the trunk liner were the fastner wore away gelcoat and glass. Why many have gone all braided line. (Amsteel line is a good replacement)
Dave

My center board will not go all the way up on my 26X. With about 3-4 inches of rope pull left, the center board appears to be hitting something that is preventing it from going all the way into the slot. I know it is not all the way up because at high speed the boat starts to "sail" and pull hard to starboard. I assume there is something stuck in the slot but it is such a thin area, I did not really think that could happen. I am in the Potomac River so pollution and an in water visibility of about 2-3 inches is preventing me from jumping in a taking a look. Anyone have this happen to them before? Should I be looking at something else that is preventing the baord from retracting (the rope is in good condition)?

[mastreb]

I keep my centerboard down about 8 inches to act as a skeg for direction control at 14 knots.

When planing the hull relies on side-slip when turning in order to heel into the corner and to come to course in a smaller radius. There's a substantial amount of lateral force tangential to the direction of travel. Having that much board down at speed would cause the boat to heel to the opposite side and would increase the radius of the turn. More substantial board down could become a capsize risk, although I seriously doubt that 8" is enough to cause a safety issue. In any case, this is why the manual recommends all boards fully up when powering over hull speed.

How do the force dynamics feel in a full speed turn? Do you do it because the turn is wider but more precisely controlled? Is the board pushed up at all by the water at this speed?

I think the dagger-board on the M is too far forward for any amount of board down to be safe at 14 knots.

Matt

[DaveB]

Matt, Doing 14 knots can't get over the bow wake. Centerboard down 8 inches acts as a skeg. Even at 14 knots I am sure the centerboard raises and doing turns at lower speed will lower it for the skeg directional usage.
Dave

I keep my centerboard down about 8 inches to act as a skeg for direction control at 14 knots.

When planing the hull relies on side-slip when turning in order to heel into the corner and to come to course in a smaller radius. There's a substantial amount of lateral force tangential to the direction of travel. Having that much board down at speed would cause the boat to heel to the opposite side and would increase the radius of the turn. More substantial board down could become a capsize risk, although I seriously doubt that 8" is enough to cause a safety issue. In any case, this is why the manual recommends all boards fully up when powering over hull speed.

How do the force dynamics feel in a full speed turn? Do you do it because the turn is wider but more precisely controlled? Is the board pushed up at all by the water at this speed?

I think the dagger-board on the M is too far forward for any amount of board down to be safe at 14 knots.

Matt

[Newell]

I have never had this problem but agree something is jammed in the CB slot. Could be anything. If it is a solid object, like a stick or wood it's going to be a problem if you try and put the boat on the trailer, it could become even more jammed with the weight of the boat pushing the CB against the object and keeping the boat from sitting in alignment with the trailer.

Doesn't sound like a fun job but you need a diver to check out the slot by feel and remove whatever is there. The CB can be removed from the boat if you are in waters where it is recoverable, if worse comes to worse.