centerboard

[sailorflo]

Here is what I need help with, Our boat is 37 ft and has a center board,We are hauling out on a railway, how can i get the center board clean and painted <The owner of the yard says he can lay us down on the railway but that just does not work for me as i dont even like the fact of being on a rail, but the price is right HELP!!!!!

[AdriftAtSea]

I don't know what boat you have, but you may be able to block the centerboard and then pull the pivot pin, and lower the entire board out of the bottom of the boat.  If you can do that, you can also check the centerboard pennants and the pin for wear and replacement as well as paint the entire centerboard.

[sailorflo]

we have a tartan 37,that sounds good if I can keep the railcar beams from being in the way, thanks for your reply Adriftatsea

[Bill NH]

What you need to do is to set up the keel blocks on the railway so thay don't obstruct the centerboard trunk.  That way the boat will be up off the railway bed and you'll have room to lower the board part way.  Remember that your centerboard will be much heavier out of the water than in the water, so be careful lowering it and block it appropriately... 

[AdriftAtSea]

Glad to help.  I had to do some work on my centerboard last summer, so I've had some time to think about how to deal with it.  I'll probably be dropping my centerboard this spring and re-painting it and the centerboard trunk. :)

[Oldrig]

Sailorflo,

I'm not familiar with the Tartan 37, but I know that with the 27, you want to be very careful when dealing with the pivot pin, which is very tricky to remove and put back.

You might want to get the boat blocked up high enough so that you can lower the board, and just paint the part that hangs in the water.

That's what I always did with my catboat, and it seemed to work.

--Joe

[Fortis]

Pretty much as with the advice above. Quite often with the railway lifts there is an option for slinging the boat. This is where you sail into the carriage, and the arms are arranged to take nylon webbing slings fore and aft. This means that the boat is hanging in those slings (Some yards run one end of the sling to a comealong. Once it is out of the water and on some kind of level the boat can be jacked up slightly (or the comealongs tightened) and wooden blocks are added to help support the hull. This allows the centreboard to be lowered and worked on. It looks scarier then it actually is.

I have not had to do a 37 that way, but we have done several 28's, one of which was HEAVY.

Wprst is when the owner wants the boat brought up normaly and then decides he simply must have access to the centreboard or keelbolts....
Getting the boat rigged up differently while it is floatingatop the cradle is a peice of cake compared to jacking up and juggling the damned thing once it is out of the water!
As a general guidline, it is okay and fine to move the boat around on its cradle while on the hard. It is just easiest to start witht he boat at its hieghest position, do the work required and then come up with ways to safely LOWER the boat...Going the other way does not make you popular.

Alex.

[sailorflo]

Just thought that I would let everyone that gave me advice on the the centerboard that it was greatl , and the center board dropped right out after pulling 6 bolts. put it on a set of horses and really had at it, Thanks for all the help!!!!!

[AdriftAtSea]

Glad to hear it... it is always good to hear that advice given worked out well. :)

[CapnK]

Good to hear, Flo.

I went by Ronnies yard yesterday to have a look see, but there was no Mae Etta. You must be over by the bridge...

[sailorflo]

Yea the bridge, That is another story more for the living aboard thread than this one, MAETTA is back on her mooring and waiting ever so to go sailing, Our cat got milk fell of the latter and is in the kitty hospital, she is okay but has an infection in her leg and wont be out til monday :'(