One thing to consider with respect to installing a thinner centerboard to cure a swollen trunk is that rust never sleeps. If your trunk has swollen enough to pinch the board due to rusted steel ballast and you remedy it by putting in a slimmer board, why wouldn't the trunk continue to be wet inside, continue to rust, and then continue to swell. Sooner or later I'd think it would just pinch the new board or split the trunk open. It seems to me, IMHO, that replacing the board with a thinner one is a temporary cure of the symptom rather than fixing the problem. That was what I based my decision on to cut the trunk open and remove the steel ballast. Sean M23 Dauntless www.havasumontgomerys.funtigo.com ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.