Weighted centerboard?

Jwheld

New Member
Has anyone modified a centerboard by adding weight?

Maybe a dumb question and Maybe the physics won’t work, but the idea crossed my mind. In recent years I’ve been most soloing my 14.2 and I think a little extra stability would be reassuring as I don’t think I could flip it back over alone. Last time it turtled I had a boat of a few guys help and was very grateful.
 
Within this forum there are several threads addressing this issue and commenting on what people considered doing, etc. My Catalina 14.2 is a 2016 model but with a fixed keel but I remember reading and re-reading the threads while deliberating on ordering a new boat and whether or not to order the fixed keel version. After sailing a full keel Cape Dory Typhoon and a shoal keel/centerboard Tanzer 22 I wanted the stability of a keel and was planning to keep the boat in the water and at my dock all season, which I do, launching in the spring and retrieving in the fall.
Previously, my Tanzer 16 was a centerboard boat with a fairly heavy c/b and the center board well was reinforced by attachment to both the port and stern seating areas, to minimize flex of the well. I also sailed a Newport Surprise (basically the same dimensions of the 14.2) for several years (way back) and it had a galvanized steel centerboard which was very heavy and caused flex in the well. I added supports between the seating area and the well, just a treated 1 x 4 (stained and sealed) which lay flat and across a portion of the well, away from the board, and also provided a nice surface to prop feet on and stand on when rigging, etc. The support stabilized the well and actually seemed to improve the action of the c/b. I never experienced any gel coat cracking or cockpit floor leaking with the support arrangements in place. Finally, I think that to add any weight in the centerboard configuration would mandate the additional support or there will be some kind of deformation/delamination eventually. Good luck and continue to enjoy your 14.2; mine is the best sailing and performing dinghy I have ever owned and I plan to keep sailing it as long as I am able; been sailing for over 50 years and am in my 73rd year, still enjoying single handed sailing especially on this small dinghy!
 
Within this forum there are several threads addressing this issue and commenting on what people considered doing, etc.

Thanks for the feedback! I felt bad, right after I posted I finally found good results to my search.
I’ve had the boat for 4 years, sailed it 10 times. (Not enough!) after reading, I think I need to get more comfortable in the boat. Also, my center board doesn’t stay down so I think that attributes to the stability. I have a new shock cord I will install before my next sail.

Keep sailing!
 

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