Leaking Centerboard Pivot

Sam Finlay (sam.finlay@ey.com)
Tue, 9 Mar 1999 11:47:28 -0500


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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Dave,
I'm sure that many of us are curious about this problem. When I replaced my Centerboard
last year I tried to get a good look at the pivot. This proved impossible as we did it on the water
and the light wasn't good enough. When we got home I crawled under the trailer and could see
the bolt on either side of the c'board and it looked fine but seemed to be an ordinary threaded
bolt w/ the board riding on the threads. That's not the best way to ensure longevity of the galvanizing
in my opinion. So I considered replacing the bolt. On my boat ( #1964 ) there is no way I can see to get at
the bolt. I can see the port side through an access hole, but to see the starboard side, I'd have to cut through
the floor. The part I can see has no evidence of a bolt at all. It looks like HMS just laid a glob of fiberglass over the whole thing. If your boat is like mine, I'd guess that you'll have to grind off the 'glas to reach the bolt head to
remove it. It might even be necessary to grind off both sides to loosen the bolt. Not a nice job but
doable. It might be preferable to replace the bolt w/ a galvanized pin so that the threads wouldn't cut into
the centerboard's slot.
Another possibility might be that ( if the bolt isn't corroded ) you could "careen" the boat on it's side
and pour penetrating epoxy into the fiberglass where the bolt enters it. The next day you could roll the boat over on the other side and repeat the process. This would eliminate any "pockets of water" around the bolt. Naturally the boat must be very dry for this to have any chance of working. If the bolt is stainless steel this would
be a bad idea because stainless needs oxygen for corrosion protection.
Any one else have any ideas?
Sam
P-15 Indomitable
Luray VA

I think the centerboard pivot bolt on the Tilly Lucy is leaking. Before
I took my centerboard out (and I had to beat on it pretty hard to get
the rusted up thing out) to be galvanized, the bilge on my boat was
always completely dry. I've been sailing twice (Angel Island and the
Estela, both all day affairs) since putting the boat back together and
each time I've had to take out about 2 quarts of SF Bay afterwards. What
makes me think it's the pivot is I'm getting water in the bilge in FRONT
of the CB as well as behind it. Water that comes up through the CB trunk
looks like it has to end on the cushions or in the aft part of the
"keel" after running down the liner.

Has anyone on the list ever taken this apart? I did see Harry's P-14
when it was in pieces (good testimonial for galvanizing), but the design
is very different. On mine, what looks like a bolt when viewed through
the slot (you can see some threads) is fiberglassed over with some
chopped-strand mat on both sides of the centerboard trunk. The bolt can
be "wiggled" so I'm quite sure that there isn't a watertight seal
anymore between the bolt and the centerboard trunk and I suspect that
some water (about half a pint per hour) is leaking through a crack or
opening in the "glassing over".

I'd like to rebuild this making sure that there is a good seal between
the pivot and the inside (water side) of the CB trunk. I don't like the
idea of water just sitting in the pockets formed by the glassing over of
the pivot.

I'd appreciate advice on what lurks under that fiberglass covering and
any improvements that might be made - I'd like to do this RIGHT so that
I only have to do it ONCE!

Thanks,

Dave Kautz
P-15 #1632 Tilly Lucy
Palo Alto, CA