[Rhodes22-list] Swing Keel Problem

[Charles Nieman]

A word to the wise …. The top of the centerboard cover is below the waterline. If one tries to remove the cover while on water, you will end up testing the positive flotation system. 

Don’t ask me how I know 

Sent from my iPhone

Charles Nieman


> On Aug 23, 2021, at 9:32 AM, Graham Stewart <gstewart8 at cogeco.ca> wrote:
> 
> This might be completely obvious to everyone else but I "discovered" that the best way to make centerboard cover bolt removal easier is to place them with the head down and the nut on the top. Obviously the bolt must not be so long as to tough the floor boards. It is much easier to hold the head with a box wrench and remove the nut with a impact driver.
> 
> Graham Stewart
> gstewart8 at cogeco.ca
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rhodes22-list [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Steven Alm
> Sent: Monday, August 23, 2021 9:42 AM
> To: Rhodes
> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Swing Keel Problem
> 
> I have the diamond board on my 1990. For the first time yesterday it was
> not operating smoothly like it always has for 25 years. I have not grounded
> or anything. I suspect the board and trunk are clogged up with zebra
> mussels. I’m slipped in Lake Pepin, which is really a stretch of The
> Mississippi River and yes, there’s a major infestation of these little
> bastards on the river but I’ve not had this happen before. This is our
> third season at this location and like a lot of the country, we’re
> experiencing drought conditions and the river is much lower than usual — so
> maybe being that much closer to the bottom at my slip puts me closer to
> their habitat.
> 
> But this is all an assumption at this point. My marina does have the big
> sling lift and we could inspect it that way, but before I incur that
> expense I thought I’d run it by y’all first in case anybody has had this
> happen — maybe it’s something else or maybe someone has a better idea.
> 
> I have removed the board from the inside before to replace the control line
> but it’s a real chore that I’d love to avoid if possible.
> 
> Note: the 50 or so bolts around the centerboard cap were originally
> Phillips heads and each and every one was a struggle to remove. I replaced
> them with hex heads so it won’t be near as bad the next time, if ever.
> 
> Thanks for any ideas
> Slim
> Fandango
>