Reply To: Repairing an old OK
Good idea about the permanent bolt. Are there any photos anywhere of a channel cut into the centerboard? I’ve got an idea how it should be done, but it’d be nice to see one first.
I’ve envisioned installing a delrin or fiber bushing on either side then using 3M 5200 to seal them and the bolt in. I wouldn’t need a channel in the board (which concerns me a bit) and the bolt could be removed if needed in the future.
I pushed out the bushings that were installed and found they used a 25mm plastic pully wheel on either side along with a wooden plug inboard on either side and in the centerboard. Good idea, but it was sealed with a butyl caulking that failed pretty quickly and rotted the wood plugs. The pully wheel idea was pretty good though. To fill the space I’d need two on each side and one in the board itself. The bolt fit snugly in the pully’s center hole. It also fits almost perfectly in the centerboard hole too. The 3M 5200 sealer would probably do a good job of keeping it sealed up.
