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Centerboard rebuild/replacement

Kirby Farrell

Kirby Farrell

New Member
Ahoy!

I bought my boat last year and have been working on repairs. I have used this forums just as reference in the past but I have now gotten to the point of needing questions answered...
My boats CB has been removed. The pervious owner has no idea about the boat and it has left me in a hard spot to find the original pendant. So now i’m trying to rebuild. Here are my Qs

1. Does anyone have a diagram of the CB system?

2. What kind of material is the CB? Is it weighted or does the cable pull tension to keep the board down?

I know there are post that talk about finding PDFs on the CB but I have not been able to locate them.
Any help with finding parts or diagrams would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Kirby
1977 Morgan West Indies 38’
 
Wow a 38 West Indies , Ive looked at one of these and been aboard. Wood work inside is top notch . I was in boat dream state way back when !
Wish i could help with the centerboard. Try Foss Foam They build many a rudder for morgans and many other brands.. If they dont they might give you a lead .
Best of luck
 
My guess its a weighted centerboard hinged at the forward end and the centerboard pennent at the rear corner !? Some kind of a turning block inside Or a 2 to one purchase set inside. I would hate moving parts inside that i did not have access to for repair. I once knew a morgan 32 owner whos centerboard board got eaten by electrolytes . His SS wire pendent was eaten thru . He used 3 strand nylon in its place !
 
stnick said:
My guess its a weighted centerboard hinged at the forward end and the centerboard pennent at the rear corner !? Some kind of a turning block inside Or a 2 to one purchase set inside. I would hate moving parts inside that i did not have access to for repair. I once knew a morgan 32 owner whos centerboard board got eaten by electrolytes . His SS wire pendent was eaten thru . He used 3 strand nylon in its place !
Click to expand...

Great idea to use 3 strand nylon! Thanks for the tip
 
If you're thinking nylon rather than SS, I would consider the appropriate size of Dyneema or similar. Same or greater strength than SS wire, and MUCH stronger and longer lasting than nylon line. Also, make sure the pivot pin is thru the CB when you reinstall everything. My Dad had a yard do work on this area of his boat (non Morgan) years ago. They missed the CB when reinstalling the pivot bolt. The pivot bolt was there, but he lost the CB when it was lowered. Of course it wasn't their fault...
Mitchell
 
What kind of Workers does that boat yard have that would miss the thru bolt on a centerboard. ? Mitchel you dont know the name of the yard do you .?
I would have taken out a highway bill board against them and called my lawyer !
 
Yes, it was a really bad deal. Could have been much more dangerous than it turned out to be. I don't remember the yard, it was a long time ago. But it was in the San Francisco Bay area. We ended up building a new CB from plate steel.
Mitchell
 
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