Centerboard Problem

SwiftCreek_Sail

New Member
We have an Expo 14.2, purchased new in 2012. There have been some threads about a year ago regarding the difficulty owners have had in lowering and raising the centerboard. Initially, we had no problem. However, now beginning our 2nd year with the Expo, the centerboard doesn't go down without me putting all my weight on a board to push the centerboard through the hull slot. Raising the centerboard is impossible using the centerboard lifting assembly. It can only be pushed back into the boat from underneath -- which is a huge problem when coming back to dock or beach.

the previous threads did not mention any fixes, short of power sanding the centerboard to make it much more narrow. Has anyone out there encountered this problem too, and been successful in overcoming it ??

Many thanks!
SwiftCreek_Sail
Virginia
 
My Capri 14.2 is older ('86), so things might have changed. My centerboard is held in place by 4 screws on the floor of the cockpit. Remove the screws, and the whole assembly lifts out from the top. There are two stainless steel plates, which include the centerboard pivot. These plates will come right off the centerboard. You will be able to see what is jamming up the works. It could be algae growth or zebra mussel accumulation, among other things.
 
My Capri 14.2 is older ('86), so things might have changed. My centerboard is held in place by 4 screws on the floor of the cockpit. Remove the screws, and the whole assembly lifts out from the top. There are two stainless steel plates, which include the centerboard pivot. These plates will come right off the centerboard. You will be able to see what is jamming up the works. It could be algae growth or zebra mussel accumulation, among other things.
Thanks Steve,
I will pull the centerboard out -- it is the same arrangement as yours, with the 4 screws -- and inspect the mechanism. Our lake is freshwater, so not sure if things grow in this environment. But there may be some mechanical problem.
Again, thanks for your quick reply :)
 
Hopefully, when you pull it apart, the issue will be apparent. I have my boat on a Minnesota lake, and both zebra mussels and Eurasian milfoil are issues for us, as well as many algae. I encountered a sailor scrubbing his hull, and he told me that he scrubs the hull below the waterline every Saturday. He said that growth is most aggressive in the spring and early summer.
 
Hopefully, when you pull it apart, the issue will be apparent. I have my boat on a Minnesota lake, and both zebra mussels and Eurasian milfoil are issues for us, as well as many algae. I encountered a sailor scrubbing his hull, and he told me that he scrubs the hull below the waterline every Saturday. He said that growth is most aggressive in the spring and early summer.
I experienced this condition when purchased my Mod I several years ago. Appears the cb opening had warped slightly. I sanded the board down to a snug fit. Over winter I drive wooden shims (tapered) between the board and opening to prevent (hopefully) more warpage. Works fine all season now.
 
Took the centerboard out today and inspected the mechanical workings of the pivot, and looked for any blockage in the hull slot. Everything looked fine.

When I tried to put the centerboard down through the slot, I could see just how extremely tight the fit was. Clearly, there has been a change in the slot separation over the 1 year we have had this new boat. NOT a good design by Catalina !!

So, as in the prior post above, it seems I will have to extensively sand down the centerboard to remedy this situation.


Thanks to all for your comments.
 

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