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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Centerboard Issues

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willy
Captain

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USA
422 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/28/2008 : 09:43:01

Folks,
When I pulled my boat this week, I noticed that there was excessive play at the pivot end of my centerboard. I have been used to a fair amount of "clunking" of the aft portion of the board over the years and I am guessing that the repeated jostling has taken its toll on the bronze fitting at the pivot. My questions...
Has anyone reading this replaced theirs?
Do I go to the Catalina factory for a replacement?
Did they charge? How much?
Was it difficult?
Did replacing it stop the "clunking" ?
Are there instructions anywhere?
Also, I have been battling a slow leak of salt water into my bilge for a couple of years now. Has anyone experienced possibly a hairline crack in the centerboard trunk that might account for this?
Hoping to be dry & quiet by spring!
Willy

Edgy, WB#655
Dewey Beach, DE

Edited by - on

Second Wind53
1st Mate

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Canada
45 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2008 : 10:35:11

Hi Willy,
We had really bad clunking from our centerboard as well and the fix was quite easy. Put in spacers on either side of the centerboard on the pivot shaft. I was going to make something but found the perfect spacer in the marina store. It was nylon 3 inch diameter washer with a 1 inch hole which slid on the 1 inch pivot shaft.

Because this was really bothering us for sleeping on the boat I got a half day lift for the boat and that makes removing and installing the centerboard simple.
One thing, when you put the spacers in you probably will have to tap the two pivot brackets back in place and then replace the bolts that holds it all in place.
I used two spacers a side to take up aprox 1/4 inch a side.

Good luck.

Peter

Edited by - on

Russ.Johnson
Commodore

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USA
855 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2008 : 12:40:38

Willy,

I had a similar problem, but didn't need to replace the bronze fitting.
Here's an archived post that might help --> [url="http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11971"]Centerboard Noise - More Than Shims[/url]

Russ C250WB #793

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bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2008 : 15:30:10

Willy, I re-shimmed "Brandy" in 2002 and have not had any clunking since. A couple of things I did when re-installing centerboard that helped were to put the pivot shaft in the way it came out and I used
the two of the old bolts as alignment pins when putting the fittings back on. In other words I cut the head off the bolts, installed them and then slid the fitting over the bolts, it really helped when
trying to re-install the fittings when new shims were in place. JMTCW

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2008 : 19:21:18

In our 2005 WB, the pivot pin became loose from the centerboard.

I dropped the board by raising the boat a few inches, removed the pivot supports and the pin. Then cleaned up the board around the pin area, put it all back together with new shims from Catalina.

We anchored off over Columbus day weekend and the thumping had returned.

Another member of the forum placed saucer shaped plastic pads either side of the boar and that took care of his issue. I'm looking for that post as I intend to mimic his method.

Paul

Edited by - on

willy
Captain

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USA
422 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2008 : 10:20:11

Thanks for the responses...I have reviewed the archived strings on this and also called Catalina who want $25 bucks for a shim kit, which seems odd to me in light of the fact it's a retrofit needed to correct an obvious design flaw. But anyway...I'm going to wait until I drop the board and see whats going on before I spend a nickle. I am thinking I can fabricate something myself but it's not going to happen until the first warm day in March. I'll keep you posted!
Willy

Edited by - on

Keith D.
Navigator

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USA
233 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2008 : 20:27:02

Willy
I do not know if you saw my post on this in the archive section but you have to make sure that you keep the blocks on the same side as they came out of because Catalina custom fit the blocks to the hull. The first time I took them out I did not pay attention to where they came from and you know Murphy I put them on the wrong side and my center board would not go down all the way. I had to pull the center board again and switch them. So one day I was sailing with the board down only ½ way. Here are a couple of pictures of the blocks and you can see that they are not the same.

Edited by - on

barleyrooty
1st Mate

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64 Posts

Response Posted - 11/04/2008 : 12:01:31

I bought the shims and also the "Keel Centering Spacer Kit" from Catalina Direct (look under C25) Product E4110 and E1707. I think I used two washers each side.

Catalina advised me to add the spacer kit, because you don't want the force of the boat to be on the keel pin while reaching.

This was all easy to install and works perfectly - no more banging.

Catalina Direct also sells the "Keel Hanger Casting Kit", but I didn't need it even though the hull was somewhat banged up around the castings.

As far as the leak, there have been a lot of threads regarding leaks. Most likely is the top of the WB tank where the large wing-nut enters.

Phil

Edited by - barleyrooty on 11/04/2008 12:29:15

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.