Centreboard slot sealing...

[dickh]

So, I took the Enterprise to Salcombe, only managed 2 sails as the weather was two cold/windy but a nice spot nevertheless.
Now,the problem, I renovated the dinghy about 6 years ago and as the centreboard slot rubber underneath had perished I went to my local dinghy specialist for some more rubber and he said "Oh No Sir, we don't use that nowadays, we use this..." and he sold me some hard translucent plastic stuff which I duly fitted and then slit down the centre. BUT(this was 6 years ago) it was so stiff it was impossible to raise the board once lowered, and that took all ones strength - so I cut a large slot out. All this I had forgotten of course when we took the dinghy to Salcombe, the result of which is that water continually slopped up the centreboard casing into the boat - we soon had 3 or 4" swilling around.
What should I do now? try and get some rubber and replace the plastic or what? What do "modern" dinghies use?


<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[KeithH]

We use plastic c/b slot sealers in our Ents ant the club I sail from - and have not found that problem. Is it possble that they supplied you with too rigid a plastic slot seal? I remember when we changed from rubber to plastic, and that caused no grief, so suspect that you may have been supplied some duff material.

Alternatively, is it possible that the change in slot cover co-insided with another problem, like stones in the slot (nasty) or an over tight c/b bolt.


<hr width=100% size=1>KeithH

 

[dickh]

Keith, I was dubious when I first saw the plastic, but duly fitted it and it didn't work. I suppose I should have gone back and complained but somehow this never happened. I'll give them a ring and find out more.

<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[wooslehunter]

I learned to sai inl an ent years ago. We used a sail cloth slot seal. This was basically two pieces of heavy sail cloth. Each piece was doubled over a sewn to stop the edges freying. They were stretched either side of the slot and held in place under the brass rubbing strips screwed to the bottom. The pieces overlapped a little when the plate was up giving a good seal. When the plate was down, becasue they were under tension, they tended to form around the plate and seal even when the plate was down.

The advantage of this arrangement is that it's cheap, effective and easy to replace.

Of course with something like an ent you'll always get some water in the bottom so self bailers will empty it out as long as there's a bit of wind blowing.

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[Skyva_2]

I had the plastic strip problem on my Merlin. Any dinghy sailmaker should supply the sailcloth strip which I found very effective.

Keith

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[paulrossall]

I had an enterprise, and a mirror, and a GP14 but I cannot remember having your problem. However I would try useing rubber again, in fact neoprene. You can buy it for reasonable money from Arco Rubber who have trade shops up and down the country. They also stock lots of other interesting items. Last time I went they were selling jeans at about £5 per pair and I did wonder how good they would be but I cannot resist a bargin. I've had them 2 years now and they still look OK. But I divulge, Good luck with your problem. Paul

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[snowleopard]

the plastic stuff is mylar film and is able to be stuck straight to the hull without a rubbing strip. it is fine for racing machines - i used it on an international canoe - but tends to split after a while.

for an enterprise or any other boat with metal keel bands, use sailcloth doubled over so the fold is against the plate. you can buy it ready to use from dinghy chanlders like London Dinghy Centre or make your own from offcuts. it lasts almost for ever.

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