I am able to access the entire center board on my 26X. The dual axle trailer has that open.
I have a broken cable and need to drop the board and fix the cable. Looking under I see the pivot pin. Where is the bolt and nut that I pull to drop the board? Or better yet, can someone post the correct procedure for the process please! Thanks
Removing the center board on 1996 26X
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Sparksvonrou
- Just Enlisted
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- Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2012 11:07 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Erie Pennsylvania
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kevinnem
- First Officer
- Posts: 324
- Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2011 11:43 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Calgary, Alberta
Re: Removing the center board on 1996 26X
Hello, I am very well aquantied with dropping the keel/center board.
I will try to find the link to the rather long thread about the troubles I have had, but for the most part it is a pretty straight forward deal.
the bolt is located under the dinette forward seat, in the centre of the boat. I highly suggest you use a "ratcheting crescent wrench" as your arm can get tired undoing the bold, but really and socket system , or wrench will do.
when I drop my keel I use the keel rope to hold it up. Yours is broken, so to stop it from falling out , I would place wood under the keel, to stop it from falling out , until you want it to.
usually when I do it , there is enough friction , that the bolt can be removed, and the keel will stay up , and needs to be "pounded down". ***DO NOT HIT THE HEAD OF THE BOLT WITH A STEAL HAMMER!*** you DO NOT want to damage the threads, I did this, and had to cut off 2 rounds of threads. Best thing is to place a block of wood on top, and hit the block of wood.
now, once the keel is dropped you will be able to pull the unit apart IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU NOTE THE DIRECTION IT WAS INSTALLED, what side is left/right and forward - it goes back in the same way.
Once you drop the front, you should be able to pull the back out. This works with the original single axle trailer, not sure if your double axle will allow this. A small screew on the port side, is where the wire attaches.
To put it back in you do this in reverse, . first , feed the back of keel in to truck, . then you line up the hanger/and bolt, ect ... then you have someone else, pull on the rope at the top (we wide it around a winch for ease of use and accuracy) , and they "suck" it all back in . Then you reinstall the meatle washer, and nut, many use silicone.
the first time you do this it will take maybe 2 hours ... once yo have done it a few times it is less then 45 mins. be careful under the trailer, . although the keel weighs only about 70 lbs (I think .. ) it is akward to work under there, you didn't have you full strength, and if it fall on you from even 1 foot, it could cause injury. Be careful.
please post any questions.
I will try to find the link to the rather long thread about the troubles I have had, but for the most part it is a pretty straight forward deal.
the bolt is located under the dinette forward seat, in the centre of the boat. I highly suggest you use a "ratcheting crescent wrench" as your arm can get tired undoing the bold, but really and socket system , or wrench will do.
when I drop my keel I use the keel rope to hold it up. Yours is broken, so to stop it from falling out , I would place wood under the keel, to stop it from falling out , until you want it to.
usually when I do it , there is enough friction , that the bolt can be removed, and the keel will stay up , and needs to be "pounded down". ***DO NOT HIT THE HEAD OF THE BOLT WITH A STEAL HAMMER!*** you DO NOT want to damage the threads, I did this, and had to cut off 2 rounds of threads. Best thing is to place a block of wood on top, and hit the block of wood.
now, once the keel is dropped you will be able to pull the unit apart IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU NOTE THE DIRECTION IT WAS INSTALLED, what side is left/right and forward - it goes back in the same way.
Once you drop the front, you should be able to pull the back out. This works with the original single axle trailer, not sure if your double axle will allow this. A small screew on the port side, is where the wire attaches.
To put it back in you do this in reverse, . first , feed the back of keel in to truck, . then you line up the hanger/and bolt, ect ... then you have someone else, pull on the rope at the top (we wide it around a winch for ease of use and accuracy) , and they "suck" it all back in . Then you reinstall the meatle washer, and nut, many use silicone.
the first time you do this it will take maybe 2 hours ... once yo have done it a few times it is less then 45 mins. be careful under the trailer, . although the keel weighs only about 70 lbs (I think .. ) it is akward to work under there, you didn't have you full strength, and if it fall on you from even 1 foot, it could cause injury. Be careful.
please post any questions.
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KingBubbaTruck
- Just Enlisted
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Mon Jun 28, 2004 11:35 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Re: Removing the center board on 1996 26X
Perfect explanation. Just dropped mine today to do a little maintenance and to, coincidentally, replace the old spectra braid rope I used for it. I have some amsteel braid coming soon and am doing some repainting of the keel.
Re: Removing the center board on 1996 26X
Just did mine. Venture trailer did not make for easy r&r of the rope. But doable with some tape and trimmer line. Tight, but I've got decent size hands
I hammered on that bolt for a solid half hour. You can't easily get a good square swing at it. I was worried about bending it, not just maring the threads. Used a deadblow and a piece of wood. Eventually it just all of a sudden dropped. Didn't work it's way free slowly. Bound bounce bounce clunk.
I hammered on that bolt for a solid half hour. You can't easily get a good square swing at it. I was worried about bending it, not just maring the threads. Used a deadblow and a piece of wood. Eventually it just all of a sudden dropped. Didn't work it's way free slowly. Bound bounce bounce clunk.