Hi Vince and Sharon, In regards to your pivot pin, I did exactly what you were suggesting with a stainless steel bolt. I suppose it might be a slight drag, but from what I've seen sailing with other boats, Tullamore has no problems with speed. It also makes the job much easier when it comes time to replace the line that raises and lowers the board. My original pin actually was a flush mount bolt (like a screw) that bedded in flush in an indent in the keel, but didn't go clear through. It just threaded into the keel itself. Over time those threads stripped out, so I drilled it all the way through, sealed it from leaks, and put in the bolt. Be sure the non-threaded part of the bolt is long enough to reach past the centerboard so the threads don't chew on it. Larry Yake M17, #200 Tullamore Deer Park, Wa. On Wed, 23 Jul 2003 23:04:56 -0700 "Vincent Himsl" <vhimsl@turbonet.com> writes:
Hello,
After a beautiful weekend with the West-Wight Potters on Pend Oreille Lake, Idaho and a beautiful sunset sail on Coeur D'Alene Lake, again in Idaho...I came home to find the Center Board Pivot Pin had worked its way almost completely out.
Fortunately, the trailer caught the center board. Prior to this I would as a standard pre trip check list item gently tap the pin back into place with a rubber mallet. This time I forgot.
Deciding that a permanent fix is in order, I checked the archives and found the procedure that recommends shorting the steel pivot pin and then using epoxy to plug both sides to keep it from drifting. I trimmed about 3/8" from the bolt and after reinserting it, decided that there was not enough meat on the sides to hold it up. So, before I order a new pin...
My question is why can I not use a bolt, washers, and nut (with a nylon insert similar to AN type aviation hardware)? Aside from looking a little tacky on the trailer, I find no reason for not going this route. Yes there is probably some miniscule amount of induced drag, but that is mainly a concern of the racers and the obsessed.
Oh for future reference, the diameter of the pin on my M-15 (built 2001) is .369 inches which is pretty close to 3/8 inches (.375)
Thanks, Vince and Sharon Himsl M-15 DUET
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