Trailer Question

[Tom Williams]

I'm going to move my CS17 out of the shop and onto its trailer in a couple of weeks. Yep ... I can hardly wait! I've started thinking about my trailer set up.

What do other do with the centerboard when trailering? Allow the CB to sit on a cradle/roller or, leave it supported by the uphaul? I have a frame at about the right location but, I'd have to add a roller or cradle to keep the CB from fretting. I'm guessing someone on this forum has an opinion.

Tom

[Peter Batchelor]

I've put a pin through the centreboard case and the trailing edge of the board. The hole is about a half inch from the top of the case, from memory slightly further forward than the centreboard pivot.

I let the board rest on a trailer roller when I drilled the hole through, so there isn't much stress on the board or the case, and the lower end of the board sits out of the boat the depth of the keel. I also keep the uphaul cinched tight, just in case....

Peter

[Brent]

The roller positioned under the centerboard is what those of us involved in Six Sigma call "mistake proofing". If somehow the centerboard lanyard comes loose, the centerboard will drop onto the roller and no harm is done. Having the centerboard drop to the highway would be a disaster.

[Garry]

I would not even snug up the lanyard. Leave it loose by an inch or two as a last resort. It is designed for sailing loads not the repeated shocks of highway travel. No use adding wear on tear on a critical item.

[Kidd]

I just got home with an old trailer I bought for my CS 17, It needs lots of work but it will have no trouble hauling my boat. I have been thinking about this very subject and have come to the conclusion that a roller under the center board would be much better than any uncontrolled agressive reprofiling.

[Tom Williams]

I'm been thinking on it as well and have concluded the roller is the best solution. The stresses on the pivot bushing are reduced by 2 to 3 X with the board supported on the trailer. This should reduce fretting and wear while trailering. I'm going to try to find something to bolt to the trailer.

Thanks for the inputs!

Tom