[Rhodes22-list] Problem with tube to centerboard cap - unsure what to do

[Mark West]

Allen can you sand down the smaller tube wrap a layer or two of fiberglass around it to equal diameter of larger     Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: Allyn Baskerville <allynb at adsne.com>
To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Tue, Nov 19, 2019 6:59 pm
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Problem with tube to centerboard cap - unsure what to do

As you all can tell with my posts, I'm new to sailing, and I really, really want to get this boat in the water. I've had the inside torn apart for 2-3 weeks, and I'm held up by the tube to the centerboard cap. I've spent multiple evenings trying to get the tube in place that the line to the centerboard goes through. The problem is that the size of the hole in the centerboard cap is 1-1/8" and the outside diameter of the hole in the outlet that goes up to the cockpit is slightly larger than 1-1/4". I believe that is why the previous owner had one tube inside the other, but it leaked pretty badly. I purchased various sizes and types of tubes, I've heated them with boiling water as well as a hot air gun for heat shrink tubing. The problem is, whatever tubing I can get around the upper hole is too loose for the connection at the centerboard cap. I've included a link for the fiberglass on the upper end the tube connects to, and there are lots of gaps in the fiberglass layers. I presume this is why I'm having the problem. I'm literally at my wits end, and I'm contemplating using a Dremel tool and cutting off the upper connection and installing a through hull fitting. However, given how the through hull won't be resting against a flat surface, I'm hesitant about doing this. I'm not sure how well caulk filling in the void will work. Can anyone offer a solution?

https://1drv.ms/u/s!ApL2Pe-LKYIig0lr50d4ejULV_Rl?e=ea6tVz

Thank you very much!