MacGregorSailors.com

Hi all,

We recently got a used mac 26s and placed it on a trailer for the first time a couple weeks ago! The problem is that our centerboard does not retract fully (about 5 degrees out) and compounding that our trailer was built wrongly and there is a central beam that is pushing on the partly extended centerboard.

When on land, we noticed that the ballast tank was leaking out of the centerboard pivot pin area.

This Mac26s has the pivot pin and bolts accessible from the ballast tank access ports from cabin, and we have taken a look. As expected its fairly dark but we noticed that the rubber gasket does not seem to be in great shape. For reference we didn't try very hard to extract out the centerboard pin but it does not feel like it'll be easy given that the access points are quite a bit inside from the ballast tank access ports.

The questions we have are
1) Is the gasket a common point of failure here?
2) Is there a possibility that there could be some wearing of the centerboard pivot hole or fiberglass damage to the area supporting the pivot pin?
3) How hard is it to remove the centerboard?
4) For each scenario what is the urgency of the repairs that need to be done?
5) Can the repairs be done while the centerboard is on the boat or does it have to be removed?

Thank you for any and all help in advance!

Delighted you’ve a 26 s.
First off the trailer is built properly. The centreboard should retract fully into the hull. The cross beam you refer to, is designed to prevent your centreboard from dropping down and getting roadrash.
Search the forum from more info on removing your centreboard. I’m certain you’ll soon hear from members about your other questions.

Ah that's good news. We were worried we'd have to modify the trailer, but from the sounds of it, the issue is purely with the centerboard retraction, not the trailer.

I can access the port ballast tank access hole but the starboard ballast tank access hole is very hard to take off and access - particularly as its below the galley sink. Obviously I need to access both of them and also relieve the pressure on the centerboard by raising the boat off the trailer before I take off the pivot pin.

Is there anything else that I should take note of?

I’m thinking you’ve jammed a stray stick or other garbage in your centreboard slot. Raise the boat a few inches using ‘teeter-totter’ method. You may be able to remove the centreboard using this method. Search the forum
viewtopic.php?p=375215&hilit=Raise+boat ... at#p375215
It works. We’ve used it. How DIY are you?? Just gotta go slow and stay safe. And use safety blocks under the tongue.
But if you aren’t comfortable, nor have the necessary blocks, etc seek professional assistance ( metal working shop, construction site,etc.

Thanks for the replies! We’re very diy and we’ll definitely follow the guide to raise the boat ever so slightly to clean out the jam. There’s also a chance the centerboard control string knot is causing the fouling as well.

But my next worry extends to the leak. Is it okay to have a leak at the centerboard trunk and the sea? After all, the tank will be full and the centerboard trunk will always be in contact with water right?

If we do find a leak will a liberal amount of marine sealant do the job or do we need to re-glass the area? The access from the cabin side ports is fairly restrictive so that’s one worry from our end