Catboat 17' Center Board

[sam1956]

Hi All,

I have a 17' catboat but the center board is long gone. Does anyone have the dimensions of the centerboard for a 17 footer? The manufacture is named Cloudburst and made in 1983

Thanks,
Sam

[Brian Palmer]

You could measure the inside of the trunk and make one to fit. The fit would need to be loose enough so that it doesn't jam going up and down.

Is this a wood catboat or a production fiberglass (not that it really matters)?

Brian

[sam1956]

It's a wood boat Brian. I have the outside measurements of the trunk but the end where the rope/cable attaches to the center board for retracting back into the trunk that is my concern. This is my first center board sail boat and wasn't sure if the center board drops all the way down in a 100% vertical position or if it is stopped at a roughly 45 degree angle.

[Thorne]

Ah, for that you need plans or photos of the boat out of the water. I'll guess that it only drops back at an angle, as the 90 degree / straight down position is more for high-aspect foils in racing boats. Any builders plates, or can you post (or link to) photos?

Can you pull the top off the CB case? If so, you should be able to trim and shove cardboard (or thin ply doorskin) into the slot and get the basic pattern. I'd only do this if you don't feel comfy working from the outside measurements, subtracting the dimensions of the wood, and adding space for the board to move and possibly swell.

Remember that other stuff ends up in the case -- weeds, gravel, etc -- so leave a little more room for that stuff than you'd otherwise think.

Best of luck!

Here’s how to post photos on this forum:

First - don’t attach photos. Most web forums don’t allow it, and space limitations are the main reason why.

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Once posted on the web, right-click the image to copy the URL (web address). Always test first by pasting the image URL into the window of a web browser and see if the image displays.

Remember, the IMAGE URL will end in .jpg, not .htm or .html. URLs ending in .htm are the page that the image is at, not the image location itself. If the image URL ends in other code, try deleting everything after the “xxxxxx.jpg” part of the URL to get it to display on web forums.

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4. Once this interface has been selected, in any “Reply” window you can click the “insert photo” icon --> a little yellow square icon with the stamp in the upper right corner, the mountains in the lower center.

5. Once the little dialog box titled “Please enter the URL of your image” comes up, paste the URL of the photo in the field.

If unsure of the procedure, test first by pasting the image URL into the window of a web browser.

[sam1956]

Sadly no builders plates but I will, do as you asked and post a link later tonight to the pics of the boat, trunk and centerboard slot with the CB cover removed.

[Brian Palmer]

Dropping down to a 45 degree angle, more or less, is pretty common, as Thorne says. On a lot of boats you can vary the angle of the centerboard a little to adjust trim, or to just pull most of it out of the water when going downwind and it is not needed.

Brian

[Ned Asplundh]

A quick Google found this:

http://listserv.uri.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind9808&L=catboats&T=0&P=1040

"17'2" (+rudder) "Cloudburst" catboat reluctantly for sale in San Diego,
California. Moving to a bigger boat and can't afford to keep 2. Very
similar to the Whitholz 17. Gaff Rigg, spruce spars, green hull, beige
deck & cabin, trailer included."

[Brian Palmer]

Sam,

One more thing: do you know if the previous centerboard was wood or a metal plate? The latter would require a narrower trunk that would not be able to hold a thicker wooden board.

Brian

[sam1956]

Sorry for the delay, had a son and moved across the country. Back working on the project and full speed ahead.
Ned that is the same boat I now have. It's no longer green nor 17 feet, I added a bowsprit and another sail for a better weather helm.
I am going to add all the measurments and see if everyone can agree on a good size. The boat is high and dry and ready to have a new cb put in but why re invent the wheel. I'll post the specs tonight and take all advise with smiles.

[sam1956]

Old Center board was metal, it's at the bottom of Huntington Harbor.........