[Rhodes22-list] What's the centerboard made of?

[ROGER PIHLAJA]

Hi Tom,

The centerboard and rudder blades are made in two halves.  These two halves are then joined around a metal armature and glued together.  Ballast for the hydrofoils to have negative buoyancy is provided by a mixture of lead and concrete.  Your centerboard sounds like it may have developed a leak somewhere around the centerline joint allowing water to penetrate into the interior.  When this water froze, it expanded and caused the swelling you observe.  Also, cement will absorb water and continue to expand long after it has nominally cured.  If this is what happened to your centerboard; then, the only fix will be to cut the board apart on the joint, separate the two halves, remove the XS cement, and reassemble.  Although I've never done it, this job sounds pretty awful and messy.  I do not recommend sanding either the centerboard or the walls of the centerboard well as you will compromise the structural integrity.  It may be cheaper/easier to purchase a new centerboard.  Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.  Good luck!

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
1978  Sanford, MI

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From: Rhodes22-list <rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org> on behalf of Tom Hyatt via Rhodes22-list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2024 7:20 PM
To: The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] What's the centerboard made of?

I am having an issue with my centerboard not dropping when I release the
line. All of the blocks seemed to be operating correctly. So I pulled the
cap and removed the centerboard (with major difficulty)

It appears that the board is rubbing against the opening where the fattest
part of the board fits into the centerboard slot. I think I want to sand
down the centerboard in this area but I have no idea what its composition
is and how much can be sanded safely (if at all).

The other option is to sand inside the slot but that seems to present more
issues with getting any sort of tool up there. Hand sanding that part would
be an option.

Any help would be appreciated.

Tom Hyatt
Eliza Jane, 1978
Middle River, MD