Stuck Centerboard

[bobherk]

I suspect my centerboard is stuck in the up position on my 26X. Is this possible? I put it in the water after winter storage, and I have a lot of slack in my centerboard pull line. Steering is slack too. I didn't sail. How can I confirm that the centerboard is down? If it is stuck, can I dislodge it without getting under the boat in the water? Would a 1/4" rod pushed though the mast support hole push it down? Thanks for the help.

[Tony E]

I have a 26X and yes sometimes it seems like the centerboard is stuck but it is not. On land it can only fall down a inch or so before it hits that guide so it is hard to tell on land. On the water sometimes I let the cable go and it may take several minutes to slowly drop down. Some times it takes some waves and bumping up and down before it will start to move and once it gets to a certain point than it seems to free fall. I wouldn't worry about it and next time you are out on the water try to make it fall all the way out and if doesn't come out after the entire trip than you probably have a problem. I hope this helps

[Capt Smitty]

Sailing without the centerboard down can be dangerous. I had a small chunk of tree branch get wedged between the board and the top of the trunk. Could barely see it under trailer with a flashlight, and was so far up in the centerboard trunk that I could not reach it. I had to jack my boat above the trailer enough to get a prybar up in there to break the board loose, then I could reach the stuck branch. I hope you don't have that problem. One way to tell is to measure, and mark, the center board line. The distance between full up and full down is 23.25 inches on the rope. Another way to tell is when you think the board is down, raise a few inches then release. I can hear the board slap the hull when it drops down. Like the rudders, the board slowly takes on water, and will lower slower till filled. Check this discussion for more info: Boards up vs down, motor vs sail. DaveB came up with lots of useful measurements.

[bobherk]

Thanks for the info guys. I appreciate it. I'll try the things you recommended.

[March]

It is indeed possible to have the centerboard stuck in the 'up' position. The centerboard is hollowed out and water is supposed to get in and offset its weight, so that it may drop down. It may take a while for the board to fill up (up to a minute), especially if the holes are plugged up with gunk. The centerboard line should tell you if it's down or not--in case it's not broken.

You may want to motor backwards for a little space, just to make sure you can force the board out of its boot.

If it still doesn't come down, refrain from sailing, just like the captain suggested above.

If the weather and the water is warm, and swimming doesn't bother you, you may hang on the side of the boat and stretch your legs under the hull. You will be able to reach the board with your toes and sense what's what.

[bobherk]

Thanks again, I'll try all this stuff and report back next week.

[Tomfoolery]

Put on a mask and swim under to have a look-see. But don't do it in any kind of wave or wake conditions, as you don't want to get knocked out by a boat coming down on you, and don't stand in the line of fire in case it comes down fast. I don't know what kind of CB that model has, but many if not most trailerable boats have steel (like Aquarius 23) or steel with lead lump on the end (like Balboa 26). X and M boats have plastic boards, but I don't know about the other models like the one you have. But still, don't stand in the line of fire if you go under to try to pry it loose.

[K9Kampers]

..and don't stand in the line of fire in case it comes down fast...

A 'line of fire story'...

Several years ago, I was rigging up for a late October sail at my local lake, the same day the local dive store was doing their annual dock dive cleanup. The dive group is setting up several docks over and have their dive flags and dock crew, cleaning the bottom of lost sunglasses, keys, phones and shopping carts. As I'm ready to depart the dock, I release the centerboard and hear an uncharacteristic clunk. A minute later I see the telltale bubbles of a diver below. Calling over a dive tender, I let them know what happened and questioned why one of their diver's would be under the only boat in the area with engine running. Not sure if the diver's tank or head got in the way of my centerboard, but all divers were accounted for and none had reported the incident!

[Herschel]

I have had a fishing bobber get stuck in the centerboard trunk. Finally, had to have the boat lifted out of the water so I could get under and find the offending piece of Styrofoam. I had swum under the boat to dislodge the stuck centerboard, as well, prior to finding the bobber was the problem. Once, when at a slip near two finger piers, I rigged a line under the boat from one side to the other and one of my crew and myself ran the line under the boat starting aft and working forward until it caught on the centerboard and pulled it loose. I have, also, had some swelling of my 1998 26X centerboard so that if I pull the centerboard line all the way up it can get stuck. I hope to investigate this further the next time I have the bottom painted. I may need to do some sanding on the board to create a little more clearance between it and the trunk in the up position. Point is, yes, centerboards do get stuck in a variety of ways, apparently.

[NiceAft]

bobherk,

I have a question that may be on a tangent.

You are inquiring about a 26X, yet your information list to the right says a 22. I am just wondering which the problem is with. Tomfoolery stated " I don't know what kind of CB that model has", and he has a 26X. That brought the question to mind.

Ray

[Tomfoolery]

You are inquiring about a 26X, yet your information list to the right says a 22. I am just wondering which the problem is with. Tomfoolery stated " I don't know what kind of CB that model has", and he has a 26X. That brought the question to mind.

I probably did my usual, and responded after thinking about it for a bit, then forgot (or didn't notice) the 'X' in the question. But you're right - I saw that '22' in the profile, and that's all that stuck.

[NiceAft]

You are inquiring about a 26X, yet your information list to the right says a 22. I am just wondering which the problem is with. Tomfoolery stated " I don't know what kind of CB that model has", and he has a 26X. That brought the question to mind.

I probably did my usual, and responded after thinking about it for a bit, then forgot (or didn't notice) the 'X' in the question. But you're right - I saw that '22' in the profile, and that's all that stuck.

I too initially noticed the "22", but didn't think much about it until a went off with your statement.

Ray

[Wind Chime]

Yes, the centerboard on a 26X can get stuck inside the trunk in the up position.

Best solution I have found is a collapsable tent pole. We keep one on board for this purpose, extend the pole then push it down the top of the hollow compression post from on top of the deck. The Centerboard is directly out the bottom of the compression post. Works every time!

http://m.globalsources.com/gsol/I/Campi ... OL_List_PP

Also - see this thread.
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... le#p306861

[bobherk]

Sorry for the misleading info on my ID. I have a Mac 22 that I'm restoring, but the boat with the stuck keel is on my 1997 Mac 26X. Too many boats, right? Bob

[bobherk]

Thanks for all the great advice guys. It's still a little cold for swimming and I just happen to have a small diameter fiberglass tent pole, so I will try that idea. Another idea I thought might work would be to get the boat on the trailer (and on level ground) and run one of those ratchet tiedown straps from one side of the boat, up and around the keel in the tunnel, and over to the other side. Then put the boat back in the water and ratchet the strap to pull out the keel. Just a thought, if I can't budge it with the tent pole. Bob