Centerboard case cap solution for Arch Davis boats

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Well, thanks to a bit of chin scratching I have come up with a solution to my "water shooting up the centerboard case" problem. A hopeless Neanderthal and incapable of the picture post I will refer you to Arch Davis' website:

www.by-the-sea.com/archdavisdesign/news/blosxom.pl (http://www.by-the-sea.com/archdavisdesign/news/blosxom.pl)

The cap isn't water tight of course but rather prevents the water from shooting into the boat - it knocks it down back into the case rather than up and out of the case.

Hope this helps out some fellow Arch Davis fans out there. By all means post questions and I'd be glad to assist.

[ 08-20-2004, 09:37 PM: Message edited by: Captain Pre-Capsize ]

[stupidmonkey]

Thanks for the offer Scott. I'm in the process of planking the port side of my dollar. Making plenty of experience gaining mistakes. Funny - things I thought were going to be difficult, weren't; and the things I thought were going to be a Cake walk... well... Love the hobby just the same.

I'll have some pics some day.

Thanks for the invitation.

[almeyer]

Neat idea, Cap'n. I'm finishing out my Penboscot 14. Been rowing it a little, and haven't had the problem you mention (I'm not exactly zipping along), but think it might be an issue when sailing. Good solution, and attractive to boot.
Al

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

You're welcome fellows. It does look good... now. Of course none of you are able to see the pile of scraps from my false starts! :D

This wood Padouk is a weird thing. Very, very orange when first cut but after exposure to direct sunlight for a week turns a deep mahogany. When coated with epoxy it deepens even more.

Prior to making this cap for the case I would be sailing with one hand on the tiller, one on the sheet and one mopping up the water swilling around my feet. That's right, I have three hands. Nawww, but I needed three hands! Now life is easier and I was able to actually sail rather than mop up.

Try this: with 15-20 knots on the nose go close hauled and see if a cap isn't a good idea! You too will do some chin scratchin' and come up with a cap.

By the way, any construction questions - give Arch a call. Most helpful that guy. Unless you wonder about the cap - then check in with the Cap! :D

[David Gilroy]

I'm doing some chin scratching of my own. I can't seem to find anywhere on Arch Davis's website anything about your centerboard cap. Am I misunderstanding what you said? I'm fairly good at misunderstanding things. I'm interested because my Penobscot 17 can have a sort of fountain effect when it's going fast enough.

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

No, you haven't missed anything the site though has been updated. Perhaps email Arch to see if it was archived. I can ASSURE you that I just kept making mistakes until I got it right. I also am the most rank amatuer you have ever seen. In short, if I can do it...

[David Gilroy]

Thank you, captain.

[bheys]

We had a similar problem with water shooting up the back of the centerboard case. We solved it by installing a centerboard gasket. The gasket eliminates the fountain. It has the added advantage of keeping debris out of the case especially when running the boat onto beaches. However, gasket is a bit more fiddly to install than the wood cap and it adds some friction that has to be dealt with in the raising and lowering of the board.

[almeyer]

Here's the approach I took, which was "borrowed" a whole lot from the Captain's solution. I've got fore and aft end pieces which are screwed onto the centerboard case. The rear edge of the fore piece has a bevel sloping toward the rear. The middle piece has a u-shaped notch in it to fit the centerboard, and the forward edge of the middle piece is beveled to match the forward end piece. The middle piece is simply held in place with a piece of shock cord. The whole unit serves as an effective splash guard, but if I run aground, the middle piece will simply slide forward, allowing the centerboard to come up into the case. It works well.
My explanation is probably not as clear as it could be, hopefully the picture will show things a little better.
Al
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid138/pa416994d6a386b292976680305723cee/f71dda95.jpg

[Thorne]

I understand that you folks want to build to the plan, and that Arch Davis is a good designer.

BUT -- All of my wooden sailboats and my one glass boat had closed-top centerboard cases, with a pennon on a pulley to raise and lower the weighted CB.

Works fine, very trad, and you only have a single small hole for the pennon instead of a large slot and a handle-top. On my dory I put in another hole on the top of the case, blocked with the traditional champagne cork, to allow a stick or boat-hook-handle to push the CB down if it jams with debris in the slot.

Another advantage is that you can row with the CB partially down -- and not have an intimate encounter with the handle when sitting on that thwart...

;0 )