making a centerboard for my sailboat? (Escape Rumba)
 

wrote:

before you guys get all bent out of shape -

1. I went to the website for Starboard plastic and it never mentions
using it to fashion boat parts that are used as control surfaces. Sure,
you can use it for a bench or a ladder, but to put it in the water as
your centerboard?? It says it has MATT surfaces on both sides (not very
slippery!)

Slipperyness or lack thereof is not really the issue. The problem is
stiffness - you don't want your board to bend sideways.

2. The size of Starboard I would need cost $45 + shipping and then I
have to spend several hours cutting it to shape and rounding off all
the edges... compared to $95 + shipping and I get the official Escape
centerboard that can be installed in 5 minutes...

Exactly. Whether you make a replacement out of this material or wood or
whatever it's more cost effective to just buy a replacement.

I really just want to get this thing out on the water before summer is
over and make sure it works... I can use a glue to get the centerboard
back together for now, then if I'm still happy with the boat by the end
of summer I'll order the factory centerboard - if I decide I do not
like it I'll post it on eBay.

That's a viable option. Realize, though, that it isn't any harder to use
the right adhesive for the job. A small kit of West System epoxy like
this will only set you back about ten bucks:
http://makeashorterlink.com/?U13F5245D Do it right, do it once.


//Walt

making a centerboard for my sailboat? (Escape Rumba)
 

robert.steflik wrote...
|I just purchased a used Escape Rumba. The centerboard is split right
| down the middle. I called the Escape company and was told I could get a
| new one for $95, but it is on 2 week backorder.
|

Looks like they're eager to make a name for themselves with
customer support.


| How hard would it be to make a new one myself? Can I just buy a certain
| type of wood, cut out the shape, bevel the edges, put on some type of
| water-proof seal ??
|
| Or, I could glue the old one back together?
|

Walt's right, glue the old one back together with a good
epoxy (I happen to like WEST System too). And if you wrap a
layer of fiberglass around it, coated with epoxy, it will
become much stronger & abrasive resistant.


Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote:
Forget all about wood, epoxy and other high maintenance systems
that will warp, bend, crack and swell.

Get a piece of Starboard plastic and fashion your centerboard
from it. You will have a trouble-free centerboard.


Bad advice. What are the structural properties of Starboard?
It's both heavier & weaker than wood... a poor structural
compromise.


Walt wrote:
"It is the choice of thousands of boat owners for hatches, doors, rails,
handles, cup holders, fishing rod holders, counters, chairs, tables,
frames and other boat trim."

Let me know when somebody starts making foils out of it. I'm highly
skeptical that it would be even minimally adequate, even if it you could
get it in a sufficient thicknesses.


About the only plus to Starboard is that it doesn't rot.
They claim it does not degrade in UV but that's not a
problem with a daggerboard and the evidence to the contrary
(ie UV-damaged Starboard) is starting to get notice They say
it is "easily" workable with normal tools (ie woodworking
tools) but it dulls the heck out of them. There is no glue
or sealant that sticks to it. Why pay a premium for it, if
you want to use stuff like this just go donw to Home Depot
or Lowe's and get some of their plastic lumber at 1/10th the
price.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

PS- glad to see you hanging around here, Walt!

making a centerboard for my sailboat? (Escape Rumba)
 

would the small $10 kit be enough to glue a 3 foot board back together?
I could not tell by the description on the website.

Robert


Walt wrote:
wrote:

before you guys get all bent out of shape -

1. I went to the website for Starboard plastic and it never mentions
using it to fashion boat parts that are used as control surfaces. Sure,
you can use it for a bench or a ladder, but to put it in the water as
your centerboard?? It says it has MATT surfaces on both sides (not very
slippery!)

Slipperyness or lack thereof is not really the issue. The problem is
stiffness - you don't want your board to bend sideways.

2. The size of Starboard I would need cost $45 + shipping and then I
have to spend several hours cutting it to shape and rounding off all
the edges... compared to $95 + shipping and I get the official Escape
centerboard that can be installed in 5 minutes...

Exactly. Whether you make a replacement out of this material or wood or
whatever it's more cost effective to just buy a replacement.

I really just want to get this thing out on the water before summer is
over and make sure it works... I can use a glue to get the centerboard
back together for now, then if I'm still happy with the boat by the end
of summer I'll order the factory centerboard - if I decide I do not
like it I'll post it on eBay.

That's a viable option. Realize, though, that it isn't any harder to use
the right adhesive for the job. A small kit of West System epoxy like
this will only set you back about ten bucks:
http://makeashorterlink.com/?U13F5245D Do it right, do it once.


//Walt

making a centerboard for my sailboat? (Escape Rumba)
 

making a centerboard for my sailboat? (Escape Rumba)
 

DSK wrote:

PS- glad to see you hanging around here, Walt!

Yeah, it's been a couple of years since I've hung around here. I see
that asa hasn't changed all that much. I wandered away at about the
same time I bought my boat - that probably tells you something.

Over the weekend I was reminded that I've actually learned quite a bit
by hanging out here, even if the S/N is on the low side. Thought I'd
come back for a visit.

BTW, I haven't kept my asa scorecard up to date, so some of the player's
names are unfamiliar. But I recognize the style (c:

//Walt