Dagger Board / center board line repair?

[Braavos]

Hi all. We are new 2002 26x owners who bought the boat last summer and are now fixing it up to be ready to launch for the first time soon. One of my last remaining tasks is to replace the dagger board line, as the previous owner said it had snapped and he never bothered to fix it.

Couple of questions if anyone has a chance...

I understand that I SHOULD be able to look at and lower the dagger board while the boat is on the trailer. Is that true?

Where exactly does the dagger board line supposed come up in the boat? This isn't clearly marked or described in the manual**, all it says is it is on the aft starboard side... Where precisely??? I am pretty sure mine is totally missing and needs to be re-run.

** This is the only thing I can find in the manual but it isn't helping me... According to this it looks like the line is supposed to come up through the mast?

Finally - what is the correct term for the 26x - dagger board or center board? I have seen it called different things!

Any help is appreciated!

[Tomfoolery]

It's a swing centerboard. It swings back and up when you pull the line, which comes up through the compression post under the mast and exits through the cabin roof through that little hole on the starboard side of the mast. From there, it turns over the cheek block that's bolted to the cabin roof, 90 degrees towards the stern to the jamb cleat on the starboard side of the sliding hatch.

To get to the attachment point, there's a nut on the centerboard hinge hanger bracket, which is accessible under the forward seat (settee) at the table. Lower the bracket and the centerboard will come down, assuming it's on the original trailer. But do put something soft under it, or have a person to hold and lower it.

I'm pretty sure it's 5/16" line, about 17 ft long, but I'm can't swear to that.

[Braavos]

Hi, thanks for the reply.. It is quite helpful.. its amazing I was not able to find this information or a photo of this line anywhere!

I will see how I do based on your info and come back if I have other questions.

[Tomfoolery]

It's actually easier to do than it is to describe. But you DO need a second set of hands to lower the CB bracket and CB without dropping it on the driveway. But it's light, so you can hold it up easily with just one hand.

When putting it back, the trick is to support the bottom, which is toward the stern when folded up (obviously ) with a stack of wood or a jack stand while you're trying to get the hanger bolt back into the hole. That bottom leading edge will sit on the trailer cross bar, but barely, and it keeps sliding forward as you're trying to line up the hanger bolt and falling on the driveway. Stack up some scrap wood, and it's easy to manipulate the bolt back up through the hole.

But it's not a difficult job at all. Really.

[Braavos]

Do you think I could use a car jack to brace the board while I unbolt it, so I can gradually lower it down?