Traditional Centerboard and Case

[BobSmalser]

Whether a new boat or a retrofit, the board and case are best made as a complete, stand-alone functioning unit before installation into the hull.

5/4 Q-Sawn White Oak planed, jointed and laid out completely with all hardware before any assembly:

Bronze drifts installed after glueup:

End cleats fitted

[BobSmalser]

Undercut double through-mortise for lead weight is cut, the wood primed with Red Lead

[kydocfrog]

Wow.

I am looking forward to part II.

DocA

[Frank Hagan]

Great work, as usual!

On the bronze drifts, are they used because they are significantly stronger than hardwood dowels, or is there another reason to use them? I guess with epoxy there's no problem with making them adhere, as long as the wood is stable before driving them.

[BobSmalser]

Bronze or galvanized are used because unlike wood or brass, they are stiff and aid the board in preventing deflection.

No glue in those long drifts....they are bedded in red lead. Glue would be a mistake just like it would be for the end cleats because it'd crack the board in seasonal movement. The drifts were nicked with a chisel along their lengths so they pound in but won't back out with seasonal movement.

The old way is to drive it all together with white lead and no glue at all, then drill out and pound in any angled drifts.

I prefer to lay the boards up with epoxy, first, using alignment dowels if required and drill/drive the long drifts in from the outside after it's all cured. That way there's no danger of pounding two boards together that won't meet because the drift is either a tad too long or hung up.

Here's the pin....designed to the board won't flop around in the case:

The bushing is .750.

I turned the pin down to .725.

I'll turn two laminated White Oak caps bored and epoxy bedded for the pin ends to be screwed into the bed logs with sealant to capture the pin.

[Guest]

You know its hard to say much about Bob's work. He always reaches a new level in each and every project. Just sit back and marvel at the mind and work. Thanks