I screwed up! Warped Daggerboard

Debmar

New Member
Well I was all keen last fall to redo my sunfish. One of the projects was repairing the wooden daggerboard and I removed the finish with chemical stripper down to bare wood but then life got busy and project got put aside. Decided to get back on it and to my dismay I see my daggerboard now has a curve in it! I guess the wood pulled in enough moisture to get it to twist a bit. Was straight before but leading edge was damaged. Is there anything I can do to try and straighten this or am I in the market for a replacement. This is just recreational sailing but I would think it may be a problem with a twist.
Any advice for me?
Thank you
 
I was able to straighten the top of a 5 drawer maple dresser that was pretty warped when I was refinishing it. What I did was to add moisture to the concave side by placing a damp towel over it. This actually worked well and the dresser came out nice.
 
I have a board that has a "cup" in it. It will jam when shoved into the daggerboard well, and is near-impossible to pull back out. :mad:

I've worked on it every season to make it "square", but it's still got a mind of its own. :(

If your daggerboard fits OK, you might not notice its defects while recreational sailing. You can give the curved board a try, but the new plastic boards seem like a prudent and logical solution. Plus, there's always eBay to buy the best of the three factory boards.

Among the wood options, the factory made the "Spoon-tip" board and two squared-off-tip boards. One of the squared-off boards is considered the best in used boards, called the "Barrington board".

Some sellers offer their own boards--then, "you're on your own". Maybe a member here can vouch for a specific vendor. :cool:
 
Or here:

 
Here is mine. I have no clue. I just took them to wood also and as soon as I read debmars post I went to the shop and got them both and put them in the house on a flat surface. I dont need another headache. Lol
 

Attachments

  • 20210309_171834.jpg
    20210309_171834.jpg
    414.3 KB · Views: 55
The Shadow board has a taper from top to bottom (of the wetted surface).

Yours is the Barrington. ;)
 
I was able to straighten the top of a 5 drawer maple dresser that was pretty warped when I was refinishing it. What I did was to add moisture to the concave side by placing a damp towel over it. This actually worked well and the dresser came out nice.
Danpal
When doing that dresser using the wetting technique you mentioned did you clamp once wet and brace in position till dry, then refinish? Would like to try this but trying to think my way through that and uncertain. Thanks for the idea
 
I have a bed side table that was my mothers. It had a fish tank on it when she was little and the top was really warped bad.

Did the clamp and water thing and got it almost flat. You just need to be patient and let the wood do what it does.
 
No, I didn't clamp it. I just check on it fairly frequently until it straightened on it's own. I then made sure to seal both sides so it wouldn't happen again.
 
No, I didn't clamp it. I just check on it fairly frequently until it straightened on it's own. I then made sure to seal both sides so it wouldn't happen again.
Ok
Thanks for letting me know
Heres a pic of what i am up against
1DAD5129-297F-4311-BBEC-5101B50520C6.jpeg
625B2E5E-9EC2-4E17-B3A1-4303F74093D2.jpeg
 
I have a board that came with my boat that has the same issue. It is partially sealed from previously owner. I was planning to strip it completely, soak it overnight in a bathtub, and clamp it flat the next day on my workbench and see what happened. Nothing to lose at this point. If it worked I was planning on starting the refinish asap. If anyone has tried this approach I would love to know their results.
 
I have a board that came with my boat that has the same issue. It is partially sealed from previously owner. I was planning to strip it completely, soak it overnight in a bathtub, and clamp it flat the next day on my workbench and see what happened. Nothing to lose at this point. If it worked I was planning on starting the refinish asap. If anyone has tried this approach I would love to know their results.
Your results may be different than mine. Clamping flat wasn't enough. (Some warpage returned). :(

'Suggesting you shim the board an equal amount in the opposite direction. It'll try to spring back, but just may achieve that "sweet spot" of dead-straight!

Good luck! :)
 

Back
Top