[Rhodes22-list] Biological Centerboard Fouling/Jamming - A Serious Issue?

[Jim White]

Thanks for bringing this up Roger. You might recall that my centerboard was 
stuck in the trunk last summer, and it took quite a bit of effort to scrape 
out all of the fouling mass in order to get it to lower. Most of the 
fouling organisms were gooseneck barnacles (Balanus sp.), oyster spat 
(Crassostrea virginica), and Bryozoans. This fouling resulted under the 
previous owners watch, so I cannot comment on the time it took to achieve 
the condition. I was unaware of it as the boat sat on a trailer during it's 
overhaul, and the centerboard was not able to be accessed from the outside. 
I never did pull off the CB Cap.

Within the next several weeks (time permitting) I plan to lay the boat over 
in the clear water near the island and assess the condition again. I will 
take some pictures with the Nikonos and post them (if it's possible to get 
a view in there), along with any commentary. I haven't done any maintenance 
to this area since July, and don't plan to haul the boat till deep winter 
(maybe around March) in order to bottom paint. Currently the CB is 
partially down, I have not exercised it in awhile (other than plowing over 
a few shoals).
jw
Jim White
Le Menagerie

At 02:49 PM 12/3/2004, you wrote:
>Hi All,
>
>Richard Smith has brought up the issue of fouling on the centerboard & 
>inside the centerboard trunk as being a potentially serious maintenance 
>issue on Rhodes 22's.  It is apparently only a serious issue for those of 
>us that sail in severly fouling waters, like down south.
>
>I've been a member of the Rhodes List about as long as anyone.  In all 
>that time, I can't recall anyone except Richard ever mentioning biological 
>fouling as being a prime cause of jamming the centerboard up inside in the 
>trunk.  According to Richard, it's a fairly significant maintenance issue 
>for folks in his area that sail centerboard boats. (Rockaway Inlet?)
>
>If there really is an issue here, it should be more widely known.  How 
>widespread is the problem?  How are other folks managing to deal with the 
>problem?  It may even rate its own FAQ topic.
>
>So, I'm asking all Rhodes 22 sailors, what has been your experience with 
>biological fouling & subsequent jamming of your centerboards?  Please 
>don't be shy about responding.  This is the sort of discussion the Rhodes 
>List was created to encourage.  If you sail in warm water & haven't 
>experienced the problem; then, tell us where you sail.  Perhaps the 
>problem is very localized.
>
>Roger Pihlaja
>S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
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