I found good luck by just digging a hole under the keel to lower the centerboard and change the lifting penent. My boat was kept in a covered stall with a dirt floor, so it was easy.> From: philbarilla@peoplepc.com> To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2007 10:10:55 -0400> Subject: Re: M_Boats: M-17 Centerboard Rope> > Thanks for the tip Arnold...I also check some stuff on the msogphotosite. I> am amazed at the ingenuity of folks in doing this kind of work on their> boats. Reminds me of Joshua Slocum's exploits in using jacks and logs to> move his boat up to the highest lake in the world in South America.> > Phil Barilla> ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Arnold Sharpe" <afsharpe@mac.com>> To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats"> <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com>> Sent: Friday, October 12, 2007 5:20 PM> Subject: Re: M_Boats: M-17 Centerboard Rope> > > > Phil,> > I also have a 1977 model, hull 265 (I think). I had the same problem> > except my board was stuck in the up position. First let me caution> > you! If the pendant should break, the board dropping could cause some> > damage, it is one heavy sucker, so be very careful.> > Obviously the boat will have to out of the water (unless you have scuba> > gear) and off the trailer so the keel can swing free. The bottom of> > the fixed keel will have to be about 24-28 inches above the ground. I> > built 2 big horses to support the boat while I did the work. A farmer> > friend helped me lift the boat (a front end loader and slings) , slide> > the trailer away and set her back on the horses. Once she was on the> > horses and cradled good, I worked the centerboard loose with a prybar> > while supporting the board with blocking (never work under the c-board> > without blocking, if it fell it could kill you). With help from my> > friend, I was able to drop the board a few inches at a time until it> > came down to where the hook on the c-board catches the pin at the aft> > end of the trunk. The pin (in my boat) is a 1/4" bolt which came out> > pretty easy but again, you must keep the c-board blocked to keep it> > from falling when the pin is removed. Once the pin was out the board> > came down all the way, exposing the connection. I my case, I found> > that the shackle had corroded and that the pendant was not even> > connected (the only thing holding the c-board was barnicles in the> > trunk ( a close call for sure). I had an additional problem in that> > the shackle connecting the hole in the c-board to the pendant was both> > to wide and too long as it caught in the trunk and hit the top before> > the c-board was full retracted. I would recommend you check both> > aspects. On my first try, I bought a new lanyard of 3/8" braid (with> > an eye) but found that it jammed in the trunk hole when the fat part of> > the eye splice tried to come thru. I ended up with 1/4" braid.> > Unfortunately I did not take any pictures of the whole process (wish> > I had) but am happy to share my experience. Kind regards and good> > luck, Arnold Sharpe, M-17,"LITTLE BREEZE"> > On Oct 10, 2007, at 6:47 PM, philbarilla@peoplepc.com wrote:> >> > > I have just purchased a 1977 Montgomery 17...boat number 250. The> > > centerboard is lowered out of the shoal keel by a rope which protrudes> > > up through the cockpit sole just in front of and outside of the> > > companion way hatch and coils around a vertically mounted sheet winch.> > > The rope is badly frayed just at the point where it exits the cockpit> > > sole when the board is in the fully raised position. Has anyone had> > > any experience replacing such a rope. I want to know what I can expect> > > when I have the boat lifted. After lifting the boat and lowering the> > > board, I understand there is a pin at the rear of the board which must> > > be hammered out in order for the board to drop clear of the keel> > > enough to unfasten the rope from the pennant attached to the board.> > > Any information as to the exact procedure and what to expect will be> > > greatly appreciated.> > >> > > Phil Barilla> > > _______________________________________________> > > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats> >> >> > _______________________________________________> > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats> > > _______________________________________________> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself with the latest Windows Live Messenger! Get it free today! http://www.get.live.com/wl/all