I pulled Surprise off her trailer on Sunday with Kathy and Jim's help, and leaned her over against a tree in the front yard. I had hoped that I could shim up the centerboard trunk opening to reduce the drag created by an opening larger than class minimum, but after a dry-fitting test, it was apparent that the board would not pull in, probably because the centerboard trunk opening is not perfectly rectangular. It would be very time consuming to get it to work, so I've abandoned that notion and I'm simply going to shim up the centerboard head so it doesn't wobble in the trunk. I used the material I had intended to build up the trunk opening with as shims for the board.
I mixed up some marine-tex to filling some gouges on the hull and I'll clean and wet sand the hull. Another improvement I'll make while the boat is off the trailer is to install mud flaps to keep the hull from getting mud spattered on it. I also plan to replace some rollers and carpeting on the bunks.
I'm not happy with the paint I chose for the centerboard; it's too soft and , scuffs to easily. So I don't think I'll add any more, I'll just sand it down regardless of the looks and use it. Someday maybe I'll try another covering. I'll get the surface as smooth as I can and press.
Posted by Bob at June 7, 2004 10:38 AM