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CABLE SNAPOLA AGAIN!!!!

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jfesi
Navigator

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USA
101 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/06/2003 : 15:52:07

Oh the joys of boat ownership.....Well I've become victim of centerboard "Snapola" AGAIN!! (figures now that my boat is a couple of weeks out of warranty) I called Catalina and they said they will send me a new cable...synthetic. OK anyone have experience with this change, and can it be done in the water? Please give a weary heart hope...this is twice now in less than 7 months!

Tropical Sleigh WB619

Edited by - on

lewalskim
1st Mate

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USA
70 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2003 : 16:34:35

I had thought that when pulling up the centerboard on my '96 model that I had to exert a lot of strain to bring it up. When I got the boat hauled for a bottom job, the yard reported that the cable snapped . I don't know if they positioned the straps across it to begin the haulout (exerting pressure on the board in the up position) and then moved them and that's when the board went down or the cable just chose that moment to break. When I looked at the cable, it was not a clean cut. It was a bit frayed.
What I did see is that the (sorry for the term) rolly ball leading the cable up into the boat was out of position. Kind of cocked to the side and not turning. It was freed and a new cable installed. Just a length of metal cable and an eye at the board end.
When I got the boat from the yard and let down the board, it went down smoother than before and when I raised it, it came up with a fraction of the effort than before. I tried it numerous times and it is nice and smooth now.

I guess what I'm getting at is to check that ball for correct seating...and I don't think that the sythetic cable is necessarily going to work (ask Tray!)

Mark Lewalski
C250WB #206
Safety Harbor, Fl (aka Tampa Bay)

Edited by - lewalskim on 01/06/2003 16:50:10<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3df26b3127cce93d48369109a0000001410" border=0>
photo posted, thanks Buzz!

Edited by - lewalskim on 01/07/2003 14:41:28

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2003 : 21:51:13

Bottoming on the center board or otherwise forcing it up further than the retract cable will pull it will cut the cable, makes no difference what its made of. Its likely a fix could be implemented that restricted the upward movement... but it wouldn't be easy to get a stop block in there without having the boat on a lift.

Some tips at replacing the cable while in the water.

Tie lanyards to tools.

When connecting to the board, swim down and wrap both legs around the lower section of the board to hold oneself in place while hooking up to the board.

Don't forget to run the line thru the forward sheave prior to running up thru the turning ball.

Run a line under the hull near the aft end of the trunk. It will give something to hold oneself stationary to while feeding the line up thru the turning ball.

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
R&R N/E Texas and Great Lakes

[url="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/"]Arlyn's C250 Mods n Cruisin Stories[/url]

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jfesi
Navigator

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USA
101 Posts

Response Posted - 01/07/2003 : 00:43:45

Thanks for some input, I'm still considering the synthetic cable, since the original metal has snapped clean twice. (Thou Trays advice in an earlier post haunts me)I can't seem to find any other info on this new modification. What a hassle and very disheartening this whole situation.

Arlyn you did raise and interesting suggestion that has me wondering...have you put a "stop block" on your boat? and if so please let me know what/how you did it. I figure my boat is gonna have to be dry hauled to really see what is going on under the board, and to aid in properly installing the new cable. Any other modification to help prevent a future snap is a welcomed improvement. To think running aground a sandbar could produce such a result again in the future would really send me over the edge.
Thanks.

Tropical Sleigh wb619 Sarasota FL

Edited by - on

Ray Seitz
Captain

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USA
416 Posts

Response Posted - 01/07/2003 : 07:25:20

Arlyn I really think you hit the nail on the head on this issue. One of the first things I did last spring was to mark the line, which is used to raise the CB, in quarters, so I always know when the CB is 3/4 of the way up. I almost never pulled it up much beyond that mark. Whenever I trail the boat I always lower the CB on to the pad on the trailer after taking it out of the water thus reducing any strain on the cable. So far so good and I did raise and lower the CB a lot! After saying that the CB cable will probably be my first repair this March. I think the stop would be an excellent solution or at least a help, it may also stop or dampen that darn clunking of the CB. Or is mine the only clunking CB? Perhaps that idea should be passed on to Catalina since this cable seems to be the 250's biggest problem. Who is going to make the call?

Strictly Sail Cincinnati made their own cables for a couple of C250's that they sold several years ago. I am not sure of exactly what they did, but the solution they came up seems to be working. If anybody wanted to call them for more detail (sorry I don't have their # handy but here is a link to their website http://wl.iglou.com/strsail/wwwhome.html ) Bob Smith is the person to talk to.

Ray Seitz C 250WB #628 Sea Major

Edited by - Ray Seitz on 01/07/2003 07:29:27

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 01/07/2003 : 07:49:39

The clunking can be greatly reduced by adding shims to the center board mounting shaft. This can be done without removing the center board from the boat but may require jacking the bow some.

Shims are available from Catalina or can be home made. I made mine from a piece of plastic using a band saw and hole saw.

No, I have not added a stop .... and to do so should likely be done in consultation with Catalina. A stop forced up in a non reinforced portion of the trunk could be worse than a broken cable.

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
R&R N/E Texas and Great Lakes

[url="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/"]Arlyn's C250 Mods n Cruisin Stories[/url]

Edited by - on

Rob Poirier
Deckhand

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Canada
23 Posts

Response Posted - 01/07/2003 : 08:21:30

The first year I had my 1995 WB the centerboard cable broke. At that time the cable was secured to the board by an aluminum sleeve. I installed a fork terminal to the end of the cable and have not had a problem in four seasons. It also made is easier to remove the centerboard for painting.

Rob Poirier
Bula Matari 250WB #44

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zebra50
Captain

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USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2003 : 15:26:06

Is there any way to check the ball while the boat is on the trailer or in the water? Possibly from inside the cabin?

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jfesi
Navigator

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USA
101 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2003 : 19:53:31

Zebra it depends on the cable system you have. I bought a 2002 boat and had an original ball sheave. That one fell apart when i replace the first snapped cable. The second was placed/fixed into a metal tube (by Catalina) which can be viewed from inside the cabin, while looking down the rubber tube. The other is down below and can be viewed from under the boat. So far the upgraded new balls are holding their own. The second cable was another story. Hope this helps.
Tropical Sleigh WB619

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jfesi
Navigator

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USA
101 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2003 : 12:49:46

I spoke with Frank Butler yesterday, and Catalina is picking up the bill for the dry haul out. Mr. Butler said "Catalina stands behind it products". Made my day!! Very fair man indeed.
Tropical Sleigh WB619 Sarasota FL

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zebra50
Captain

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USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2003 : 14:13:59

Rochester, thanks for the info. After this snow I will go up to the lake ans see if I can view the ball. I rarely if ever, raise the board once the boat is in the water. It only comes out for the winter and then while it is on the trailer I let it go slack. I have had no problems other than occasional clunking noise when sitting at the dock.

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