Since there is a lot of clearance between in the trunk, the centerboard can
be somewhat thicker than the current plate. I think that this extra
thickness is essential to fabricating the keel. I don't think that it would
be possible to make a fiberglass keel the same thickness as the original
steel centerboard. The opportunity to eliminate the clunking is just an
added benefit.
Of course, not being a naval engineer/architect, I am curious about some of
the stresses that may come into play with a modification of this type.
Christopher A. Chung, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of Houston
Dept. of Industrial Engineering
Houston, TX 77204-4812
tel. (713) 743-4195
fax. (713) 743-4190
cchung@uh.edu