Hi Chris...Just to address one of your questions...I pulled the center board on my M17..(iron board #200lbs give or take) I did it by myself with a hand truck and some wood blocks. It was pretty easy. If you have a friend to help...it will be easy My suggestion: (1) Take out the "stop pin" first... (2) Lower the board all the way out...very slowly. (3) Block and brace the CB ... Now you can drive out the swivel pin and do what you want to the CB. (Note: I seem to remember that the pins must have been removed and re-installed from the starboard side of the keel. I.e drive the pin out from the port side toward the starboard side. Put the pin back in from the starboard side.) Word of advice. If you blast it and epoxy paint it. Use only ONE COAT of epoxy or a couple of very thin coats and one coat of bottom paint. Too much paint and your C/B is not likely to fit back in the slot. I did the entire process and had to take the board back down to bare steel as I could not get it back in the slot. The tolerance is tighter than you think. I am still searching for another answer in the form of a different board to take the place of the Iron beast. Hope this helps... Michael Ray