My brother 26d had a similar problem. The factory trailer setup was balanced for a boat with no motor. He moved the axle back about 10 inches and completely solved the problem. The event which precipitated the trailer mod was the result of hitting a large deep pot hole. This shattered the leaf sprin...

I use a 3 to 1 on the centerboard to adjust the centerboard and it is particularly useful when sailing under main sail only. Pull it about 1/3 the way up to balance the helm, otherwise it really wants to round up. When lowering I also I shift my weight side to side to allow the board to drop. Plus a...

Good choice, $200 is great investment. Take from one who has dis-masted, twice, on a Hobie 16, once under heavy winds. The parting cable sounded like a 22cal gunshot. It was no fun and you could get seriously killed. I was very lucky. By the way, my the failed shroud, looked better than your photos....

It is the tubing which allow passage of the control and battery cables to the outboard, if you route them from the pedestal toward the back. The other end (outside) of the tubing should be located just to the right (starboard) of the outboard about 3 or 4 inches above the deck.

This thread may have been started with malicious intent, but the result is positive outpouring of passion for our chosen boats. Everyone expresses and defends their views differently.
I love my

My brothers 26D with a 1987 7.5 Honda 4 stroke and a similar problem. After tearing it down we found the previous owner had put a new impeller in the water pump. It seems the prior impeller disintegrated and little pieces of rubber were found clogging the cooling system in a couple of places. The bi...

Lightening I have a static dissipater on my mast, a birthday present from my brother since he knows I don’t have sense enough to come in out of the rain. I live in the high desert where our best wind is usually the gust fronts ahead of thunderstorms. The problem in the years before I installed the d...

N5UJM
Mostly use 2M and 70CM for hot air balloon chasing.
I am a member of the Upper Rio FM Society. It is great ham club with a state wide repeater network.

97X bought used in 2000 original equipment failed in 2001 replace with rotary Teleflex zero feedback.
No problems since. Unfortunately rack and pinion will not fit in the pedestal

If you really want to get crazy you can do what the government does :? . Stainless steel in harsh military environments requires a process called passivation and neutralization when stainless is cut or welded. It is a PITA but it also works to clean up corroded stainless. It requires washing/soaking...

Interisting history, funny I thought my company was the only one who designed by trial and errror. :D Enlarging the transom valve was the first modification I did to my 97X. Relatively easy think I used a 3' inch Valterra brand valve with a stainless steel gate. The transom is pretty thick so it too...

I used a 1000lb winch or about 450Kg winch when I converted my X original mast raising system to the M type. I choose it because it mainly because had the most reliable direction switching cog mechanism. Some of the winches I looked at had very poor functioning of the reversing mechanism. The tensio...

Road Soldier, Thanks for the reply. I thought it should be packed with foam, and it will be when I am done. Additionally one of the cleats was installed using drywall anchors :x . You know the kind that expand at four points when tightened. Due to the dirt and age of the caulking it looks like OEM w...

I just replace the plastic aft cleats on my 97 26X with some solid stainless ones. When I put the 5” ports to gain access to the back side of the cleats I found the seat backs are only about half full of flotation foam. Has anyone else who has replaced the cleats found lots of space and little foam?...

I lost one of the L brackets while trailering and Blue Water Yachts had a exact replacement part for my X, you might check. It is easier to buy than fabricate, usually. I also copied the M gin pole by adding a $20 winch to my pole. Make single handed raising and lowering a breeze. My only complaint ...