[Rhodes22-list] Handling Gusts

[Michael D. Weisner]

Paul,

I jack up the boat over the trailer when I paint the bottom and remove the 
centerboard roller to permit the board to drop down a bit further, not quite 
vertical, but enough to paint the board and the trunk.  This year will be a 
major overhaul in which I will break the CB trunk seals and actually remove 
the centerboard, blocks, line and pivot hardware for inspection and 
replacement as necessary, before painting and reassembling for the '09 
season.  I do this every 5-7 years and usually have not had problems with 
the board for years.  I suspect that this past season the mussel growths 
were exceptional (even with anti-fouling paint) or a block failed and jammed 
the board.  While the water is still very warm (72-75F) I will snorkel 
underneath and inspect the board, possibly being able to free it for the 
remainder of the season.  The other alternative is to put her on the trailer 
and take a look underneath.

Mike
s/v Shanghai'd Summer ('81)
Nissequogue River, NY

From: "Paul Krawitz" <krawitzmail-rhodes22 at yahoo.com>Sent: Tuesday, 
September 09, 2008 1:32 PM
> Mike W.,
>
> Regarding barnacles and mussels on our north shore of Long Island
> preventing the centerboard from dropping, the solution I found after
> years of having the same problem was to have the Rhodes stored high
> during the off-season to allow the centerboard to hang free, then have
> the marina powerwash the centerboard trunk, and spray and paint the
> inside of the trunk with two fresh coats of anti-fouling paint.
>
> Once I started doing this annually, the centerboard/daggerboard never
> failed to drop completely during sailing season.
>
> Paul K
> "Clarity"
>
> ------------
> As an aside, I was unable to drop my centerboard the last two times we
> went out, causing a lot of side slippage when on a broad reach. On
> labor day, when the wind died, we anchored off Short Beach (Smithtown,
> NY) to go swimming and I went under and looked at the bottom.  I found
> a few barnacles that were easily knocked off and tons of very small
> muscles in large groups of seaweed stuck to the hull.  I do not
> remember seeing this kind of growth before (in 28 years!)  The muscles
> look almost like a "hand" of grapes.  Has anyone else in the NE (LIS)
> seen this?
>
> I knocked off much of the sea life with the scraper side of the
> mop/broom/brush.  We have since been able to cruise at normal speeds,
> although I was unable to free the board.  Must be something stuck in
> the centerboard trunk or a problem with the line or blocks.  If I
> can't free it in the water, I will be servicing the CB this winter
> while on the hard (I think we're due for a major service anyway,
> replacing line and blocks.)
>
> Mike
> s/v Shanghai'd Summer ('81)
> Nissequogue River, NY
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