Steve: I am happy to hear that your board came down without much problem! When I took mine out, it had a 3/8 inch stainless pin with the ends epoxied over. I just tapped the pin out and board dropped out. Dale

Steve, Before I went to all that work, I would try putting the boat in the water and my bet is that will loosen a lot of the debris that's in there. Also, raise and lower the board a few times within whatever range it operates freely to create some washing action in the trunk. Then, go ahead and raise the board all the way and, holding the pendant so the board won't go crashing into the pin, try jumping on the cabin sole (I assume the M15 pendant is inside the cabin as it is on the M-17 -- if not, jump on the sole where the pendant is). That jarring action will likely bring the board down. If not, dive on it and pry it out as you already have done. REpeat a few times and you will most likely wind up with a perfectly operating Cb in a clean trunk. Dan

"Steve McClellan (at Home)" wrote:

Thanks to everyone who replied with suggestions or sympathy about my centerboard problem. The prize for most creative solution definitely goes to Dale -- Dale, it sounds like you really earned it! I almost split my sides trying to visualize three fat farmboys hanging off of a trailer, pinned to the bottom of a boat being suspended in the air by tractors.

Well anyway, I have an update: I went back to the boat again, and instead of curses, tried sweet-talking it (along with a little gentle prying on the far aft edge/tip of the centerboard. It came out an inch or two at first, then all they way. Down also came a quantity of substance that appeared to be composted leaves and bugs (or some such brown awful looking crap).

Now, I can raise and lower the board all day, within an inch of full retracted position, but if I retract it that LAST INCH (which I would need to do to put it on the trailer) it gets stuck, won't come down without prying again.

I'd like to really clean out the centerboard slot, which would probably be best done without the board there, So I'm thinking of just removing it.

On my M15, there is just what appears to be a standard galvanized or stainless, maybe 1/2 inch carriage bolt through the keel which the board pivots on. On the port side, there is just the bolt-end sticking out, with a nut on it.

I'm wondering -- is that what most people have for a pivot pin? Or was mine replaced at one time, perhaps persuant to some damage? Seems to me I remember someone mentioning once that their pivot pin was epoxied in, and completely flush with the keel on both sides. Just wondering how most people's is.

I'm just planning to remove the pin and drop the board out (gently of course, with due regard for it's weight). I'm not expecting any surprises. Should I? For you all who have done this, am I forgetting something?

I have to say -- the talk recently about casting a bronze centerboard (this was for the M17 I believe) sounds pretty attractive. If it's true that older M15 boards have a tendency to swell up and become non functional, I would think there might be a market for a bronze replacement. I know I'd consider it. It would be quite an upgrade, adding even more weight where it really counts, impervious to water, and foil-shaped better than what you'd get with plate steel, say.

It's a beautiful sunny day, with highs in the low 40s in Chicago today, blowing 10 knots from SSE -- Lake Michigan water temperature around 36 degrees. Sailing season is right around the corner!

-- Steve McClellan M15 #152 Evanston, Illinois