Ronnie, the wire is a neat idea but I am not sure how it would work with the 350lb center board in the M-23. That thing is not only heavy it is kind of dangerous (in the wrong hands that is); don't ask me how I know. I know that Jerry Montgomery's new boat has a 350lb center board. I wonder if they have tooling to get it positioned? Not sure what the board weighs on the new M-23's. Maybe there are some aids that could help. How do the pros do it? Any comments Sal or Jerry or Bob? I am headed out to Golden CO in January to see how the snow is, are you going to be in production by then Sal? Hope you all have a good holiday. I am looking forward to finally being ready to barrier coat over the holiday. Stay with me 50 degree plus weather! Robbin On 11/21/2010 10:46 AM, Ronnie Keeler wrote:
Sean,
Your post reminds me of why I don't own centrboard or swing keel boats nowdays. I have owned several in the past and replaced a number of pennants and pivot pins. One trick I learned from an old New England boatwright, who ran a yard for amateur boat maintenance, was to put a flexable wire through the centerboatd hole before lowering the board and using the wire to realign the board when you raise it again. I have used scaffolding and cross beams to lift boats off the trailer at home. I set up four scaffolds and put heavy wood (or steel) crossbeams between them and use four "comealongs" and straps to lift the boat. I then use a pair of large auto floor jacks to lower the board (or keel) with 2x4s to stabalize it from side to side. You can rent the heavy duty scaffolding for less than the price of a boatyard crane (borrowing is even cheaper) and have it for longer. Just for your information, I have a buyer coming Friday to get Griselda, my 1974 fin keel M17. Depending on his teaching schedule (college classes aboard an aircraft carrier) he might be able to bring her to Havasu in February. He formerly owned a fin keel M17 in Hawaii but it burned and sank so he is very familiar with the boat. Unfortunately, Griselda is a bit deep drafted to moor at my dock behing the house or sail in the cove and I have replaced her with a sloop rigged Seaward Fox. We are curently looking after elderly parents and it is uncertain whether I can bring Prudence (My Fox) to the event. I will just have to wait and see but, just in case, I have ordered new tires and a spare for the trailer and have new bearings to install. My Brother is also thinking about coming with his Day Sailer II (modified for beach cruising) if I get to come. Only time and the well being of a couple of elderly loved ones will tell.
Ron aka: Whitebeard
M_Boats Holy Cow it's been quiet around here http://cid-089a884a6f9d7409.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=8...
From: nebwest2@aol.com To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Date: Sun, 21 Nov 2010 08:01:43 -0700 Subject: M_Boats: Holy Cow it's been quiet around here..
and the trailersailor.com list as well.
As for me....today I will embark on trying to figure out how in the heck to change out the centerboard pendant on Dauntless, without having to hire a crane to lift her. Floating her, over extending the board, and SCUBA did not work. The keel will not extend far enough to allow access to the pendant. UGH! That leaves:
1. cut into the liner and then into the centerboard trunk to expose the keel from the inside of the boat, switch it and then install inspection hatches
or
2. drive the pivot pin out, hire a crane.....again.......and lift the boat up off of that cast iron plate switch the pendant, re-lower the boat and play the " I can't line the dang pivot pin up again" game , hoping to get the pivot pin re-inserted and the boat off the crane within 59 minutes and 59 seconds.
or
3. Option 3....which I have not thought of yet, but which I hope includes some pizza, a nap, and some kind of fairy that arrives while I am sleeping and makes this all go away! I LOVE OPTION #3!!!
Sean M23 "Dauntless" www.havasumontgomerys.piczo.com www.sailhavasu.com _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
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