another fireball question

1

1114C

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hi

i am in the process of trying to get a fireball on to the water this year, it is old and all wood, the wood is stripped, varnished and other stuff done

am now getting to the exciting stage of working out how it all goes together but i cannot work out how the centreboard "works". the dinghies i am used to had a daggerboard which the fireball does not

does anyone know if the fireball centreboard fully retracts or not and also is it normally attached to the boat somehow, perhaps at the base of the mast. final question (and this will sound the dumbest!) what stops it dropping right through - the board I have as two holes at the top and what looks like a handhold - one of the holes is very small, the other around an inch in diameter

thanks for all your help - the help i got last time was great and the inspection hatches are awaiting fitting once another coat of varnish is put on

ta
 
Can't help with your ?,but a few years ago (more like a long time ago) I took mine out on my own the wind got up and after capzizeing a few times, ended up sailing down wind till I came to a beach, and had to find a mate to help sail back,but boy did it FLY /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
I seem to remember that it also had rubber stops bolted through the board alongside the handle, that were hard against the top of the case when it was full down
 
Yup - it should pivot on a bolt - probably about 6" up from the floor there will be a bolt hole - there will be another one in the front of the board. The board pivots around this bolt and retracts fully into the case - that way you can get it on the flat trolley.

You generally don't have to tie things up - it is normally holding these boards down whilst sailing that is needed - however, you do need to pack the sides out to stop sideways slack. To give the board a bit of grip you can cut 4" of stiff hose and screw through that into the board - if the board was right down then the hose would be on the vertical bit you can see from inside the boat.
 
The little hole will be for a pin to hold it up in transit. As said, big hole is for pivot bolt. Grease well - you want to put the blade in and leave it there or the wood sides of the box get damaged.
 
thanks to all for the advice - now you have pointed it out it seems obvious but I was v confused at the time - it now makes a lot more sense

will undoubtedly be back with another daft question when it is time to get the mast up - hopefully this weekend

then I will realise it is a scary fast boat and possibly not sail it very often but you have to try!
 
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