Centerboard Bracket Bolts Leaking

[Ross]

Its been a long time since I've been on the forum.  Sometimes life gets in the way. The pandemic was tough for me.

But I've still been happily sailing my P21 and even won my first race earlier this season.

But I'm looking for advice. Last week after sailing in some pretty windy and choppy conditions I noticed some water on the floor of the cabin.  I chalked it up to maybe the cooler spilling or something. But then on Friday it happened again.  Im fairly certain its coming from the centerboard bracket bolts as there was no other source of water.  (Cooler was empty this time).  And the wetness seemed centered on the bolts.

The bilge is bone dry.  It only seems to happen if I'm sailing the boat in good wind.  Has anyone else experienced this?  Im thinking the side force on the board has maybe broke some of the sealant?  The boat is almost 14 years old.

Anyhow I think I'm facing the dreaded centerboard bracket replacement.  So for those that have done it...how'd you get the boat high enough off the trailer? Any tips or tricks?

Thanks in advance everyone.  I hope everyone is doing well and I'll try to be a more active member again.

[Brian N.]

Welcome back Ross! Can't help with the centerboard issue, but my guess is others will have some great advice

[Quantico Frank]

WB, Ross!

[Riggerdood]

Great to hear from you again Ross!

There has been some discussion of that issue since the forum was moved here, but I'm not sure if any of the old forum's content has been archived or not, or how to access it if it has.

Anyhoo, most of the old forum's regulars have managed to migrate here, and I'm sure a few will chime in.

[Macsp21]

Replaced the centerboard on my p21 on trailer by cuyying crossmember remove replace c.b. solo 2 hours replaced x member patched and bolted c channel to secure the x member two years no issues

[tjspiel]

Welcome back Ross !

Though I'd personally like to see it supported better once he got it off the trailer, here's how one guy raised his boat to do centerboard work:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/PrecisionSailboatOwners/permalink/1405755913515976/

[Ross]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome back and the advice so far.

Any tips of getting the old centerboard bracket loose?  I understand its bedded with a generous amount of 3M 5200 aka Devil's Glue.  Maybe since I've developed a small leak, the bonding is already a little compromised and will help me remove it.  But am anticipating that it's still firmly attached.

I think my best hope is to use the Debond spray and some brute force.  But any suggestions are welcome.

[Brian S]

I apologize that I can't remember what the centerboard brackets look like for Precisions, or how they are installed. Aren't they installed up from below, such that there is no penetration into the hull itself? Unlike other boats with swing keels which have a pivot bolt through from one side of the CB trunk to the other, with potential leaking at the pivot bolt.

I just keep remembering how it works for my O'day or my former Harpoon - basically the bolts go up either side of the CB trunk, and remain threaded into the laminate, so there's nothing to leak.

[Macsp21]

Can you snug the two mounting screws ,!if only rhe on cabin floor is wet and not in bilge it must be centerboard mounting holes .is your boat is on a trailer you have no room towork on cenrerboard

[Riggerdood]

I apologize that I can't remember what the centerboard brackets look like for Precisions, or how they are installed. Aren't they installed up from below, such that there is no penetration into the hull itself? Unlike other boats with swing keels which have a pivot bolt through from one side of the CB trunk to the other, with potential leaking at the pivot bolt.

I just keep remembering how it works for my O'day or my former Harpoon - basically the bolts go up either side of the CB trunk, and remain threaded into the laminate, so there's nothing to leak.

Brian, does your O'Day have the wedges for the CB pivot pin? These were used on later versions of the Daysailer, as well as other models. Pretty ingenious design, with retaining plate machine screws going into tapped plates embedded in the hull, and no pivot bolt (pin) holes. Kind of like the Precision design, but from below instead of above.

[Brian S]

Brian, does your O'Day have the wedges for the CB pivot pin? These were used on later versions of the Daysailer, as well as other models. Pretty ingenious design, with retaining plate machine screws going into tapped plates embedded in the hull, and no pivot bolt (pin) holes. Kind of like the Precision design, but from below instead of above.

Yes, that's how the O'day does it. From the bottom of the keel, the board with a pivot pin wider than the board goes up into the slot. Then, wedges on either side of the board fit into recesses in the keel pocket, adhered with additional 3M 4200. These pie-shaped wedges hold the pivot pin up into the recesses. Across the bottom of the keel, there are metal plates which are bolted into the keel, which hold the wedges and whole works up in the keel pocket.

[Riggerdood]

Yep, and a much more thorough description than mine. It's funny: my '79 DS had a pivot bolt, but my buddy's '80 model had the wedges, so that's when they made the design change, at least on the DS.

[macula]

Replaced the centerboard on my p21 on trailer by cuyying crossmember remove replace c.b. solo 2 hours replaced x member patched and bolted c channel to secure the x member two years no issues

Did you replace the cb or just the bracket? I need to replace the centerboard on my P21. First I have to find one. I would be interested in more information about how you managed to replace yours on the trailer. 

[twstoerzinger]

I had to remove and repair the CB on my P-21 three years ago. I had been told about Debond and bought a can. What I learned is that the Debond works fairly slowly and only about 1/16" deep per application. The procedure I used was: remove the nuts on the cabin floor, apply some Debond, wait 15 minutes and scrap with a (hardware store version) dental pick. Apply more Debond and repeat. The hole through the cabin sole and outer hull is oversized so it is easy to get the pick in there as you go deeper and deeper. I think it is about 3/4 inch total hole depth. Once you reach the top of the stainless CB bracket you will find it is also secured by 3M 5200 on the top and both sides. All you can do then is saturate the cavity with Debond and wait. In the end, I had to put some disposable nuts on the CB bracket studs and drive the bracket out with a hammer. The hammer blows seem to work the Debond deeper to where it needs to be. For me, it was an all day job. I didn't like the factory weld job on the bracket, so I took it to a buddy who has a TIG welder and knows how to do stainless. After the board was repaired, I considered using 4200 to re-bed the bracket, but ended up putting 5200 back in there - just not as much as the factory had installed. If yours is only leaking and you don't need to remove the board, I would recommend removing 5200 down to the top of the bracket and then installing new 5200. Be sure to kill the action of the Debond with alcohol before applying the new 5200.