Ebay DSII/centerboard cleat question

[klb67]

There's a 1976 DS II in Milwaukee for sale on ebay that someone needs to buy. Not the best pictures but it looks to be in good shape and mostly all there.

Over the winter/spring, I am going to be adding the block system for centerboard controls to my 76 DS II. Is there a general consensus regarding leaving the factory cleat on the starboard side of the CB trunk or replacing it with a jam or cam cleat? I've searched through the pictures on here and found only a few examples. Do most sailors cleat the CB downhaul after the CB is lowered, or leave it loose? I understand the risk of cleating and hitting an underwater obstruction, but I also understand that the CB can rise up a bit if not cleated.

[jeadstx]

I usually try to cleat it. It has come loose at times and the board will rise a little. Tim Webb found a good system using auto release cleats that allow the board to be cleated, but release if you hit something allowing the board to come up. Maybe he'll chim in.

John

[klb67]

Thanks John. I'm pretty sure I saw his set up on here. It looked like the auto release clam cleat offered by duckworks (and possibly others).

I'm interested to hear how he likes it. I also wonder how it is installed into the CB trunk - do you overdrill, fill with epoxy resin, and then screw into the epoxy? Or will a screw hold into the trunk?

[TIM WEBB]

I love it! Works great. Pics in my gallery. You only need the autorelease for the downhaul. Uphaul is a regular clamcleat. Both are just screwed to the side of the CB trunk with normal SS screws. Haven't had an issue since I installed them several years ago. One bit of advice I can give though is, no matter what CB UH/DH cleating system you use, with the "standard" DS2 continuous line system, when sailing, keep constant tension at all times on both UH and DH, whether the board is up, down, or somewhere in between. Helps to prevent jams. On the trailer, let the board rest on whatever support you have under it, bunk or roller, and have both UH and DH slack, so that neither attachment point is subjected to shock loads while the boat is being towed.