The Rhodes 22 Discussion Group
ROGER PIHLAJA
What's the centerboard made of?
2024-05-23; 08:57:14 EDT
Member Since
2002-08-01
Posts: 1425
Hi Tom, The centerboard and rudder blades are made in two halves. These two halves are then joined around a metal armature and glued together. Ballast for the hydrofoils to have negative buoyancy is provided by a mixture of lead and concrete. Your centerboard sounds like it may have developed a leak somewhere around the centerline joint allowing water to penetrate into the interior. When this water froze, it expanded and caused the swelling you observe. Also, cement will absorb water and continue to expand long after it has nominally cured. If this is what happened to your centerboard; then, the only fix will be to cut the board apart on the joint, separate the two halves, remove the XS cement, and reassemble. Although I've never done it, this job sounds pretty awful and messy. I do not recommend sanding either the centerboard or the walls of the centerboard well as you will compromise the structural integrity. It may be cheaper/easier to purchase a new centerboard. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Good luck! Roger Pihlaja S/V Dynamic Equilibrium 1978 Sanford, MISee the original archive post
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