Happy New Year everybody,
I had multiple mishaps on the last sailing trip of the fall in my ’64 DS I. The outboard motor quit running, the centerboard got stuck halfway down, there was a crack in the CB case, and the mast broke while careening the boat to inspect the CB problem. Yes, all these things went wrong in only one weekend! Now it is winter and time to work on repairs, and I would welcome your advice.
The first thing I plan to work on is the cracked CB case. I will have to remove the CB so it does not become permanently epoxied in place. Instead of careening the boat in the snow, here’s my plan:
Back the trailer into the garage carefully without hitting anything. Secure 2 ratchet straps around the boat amidships to retain the CB. Remove the CB lever and pivot pin assembly.
Then jack and block the boat until it is clear of the trailer, and roll the trailer out from under the boat. With the trailer removed, I can release the ratchet straps and lower the CB to the floor, keeping it in a horizontal position. The CB is about 14” wide, so there should be plenty of clearance with the boat 18” or so above the floor. Once the CB is out, lower the boat and support it to work safely and conveniently inside.
What's the best way to open up the crack in the case to patch the fiberglass? One of the local hardware stores has a neat little Makita angle grinder for only $60. Please tell me I get to buy another tool!
Is there anything erroneous or unanticipated here? Thanks for your words of wisdom. We can talk about further repair steps in future posts. Pictures will follow soon.