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.

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?

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.

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?

Assuming it's a clean split, I'd try gluing the old one back together
first. It's not at all uncommon for wood centerboards to split - a bit
of cleanup and application of some West System epoxy and they're like
new. Now, I don't think the Escape has a wood centerboard, but whatever
it's made of is probably gluable if the split is a clean one.

Second choice would be to spend the 95 bucks - yes, you can build your
own more or less the way you describe, but it'll take more than 95
bucks worth of your time unless you value your time at less than minimum
wage. And if you ever want to race it you'll probably need to use a
stock centerboard.

//Walt

the centerboard in my sailboat is definately solid wood - not plywood,
not fiberglass coated, etc... it's just a wooden centerboard. Do I
still need to use the West System epoxy or can I just get a standard
wood glue from my local lumberyard - then coat the entire centerboard
in some water-proof seal to protect it (since it looks a little
weathered)

Walt wrote:
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.

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?

Assuming it's a clean split, I'd try gluing the old one back together
first. It's not at all uncommon for wood centerboards to split - a bit
of cleanup and application of some West System epoxy and they're like
new. Now, I don't think the Escape has a wood centerboard, but whatever
it's made of is probably gluable if the split is a clean one.

Second choice would be to spend the 95 bucks - yes, you can build your
own more or less the way you describe, but it'll take more than 95
bucks worth of your time unless you value your time at less than minimum
wage. And if you ever want to race it you'll probably need to use a
stock centerboard.

//Walt

wrote:

the centerboard in my sailboat is definately solid wood - not plywood,
not fiberglass coated, etc... it's just a wooden centerboard. Do I
still need to use the West System epoxy or can I just get a standard
wood glue from my local lumberyard - then coat the entire centerboard
in some water-proof seal to protect it (since it looks a little
weathered)

I wouldn't bother with anything other than West System. Use wood glue
and you'll be looking at doing the repair again in a year, and it might
come apart on the water at the worst posible moment. West System epoxy
is meant for a marine environment, and it's actually what you want to
use as the waterproof sealant too. Youll want to add a coat of UV
inhibitor on top of the epoxy when you're done - spar varnish or
polyurethane.

And if you opt to build your own board, coat it in West System, followed
by a coat of varnish or polyurethane.

//Walt

wrote in message ups.com...
|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.
|
| 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?
|

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.

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com...goryId%7E 305

West Marine sells it locally.

Yours,
RWE

Hollywood is a place that will give you $2000 for your body and fifty cents for your soul.
-Marilyn Monroe

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote:


wrote in message ups.com...
|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.
|
| 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?
|

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.

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com...goryId%7E 305

"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.

//Walt

"Walt" wrote in message ...
| Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote:
|
|
| wrote in message ups.com...
| |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.
| |
| | 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?
| |
|
| 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.
|
|
http://www.jamestowndistributors.com...goryId%7E 305
|
| "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.
|
| //Walt

Take a look at a Hobie rudder sometime. It's not troublesome wood.
And, a foil need not be thick to work well.

RWE

"Walt" wrote in message ...
| Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote:
|
|
| wrote in message ups.com...
| |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.
| |
| | 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?
| |
|
| 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.
|
|
http://www.jamestowndistributors.com...goryId%7E 305
|
| "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.
|
| //Walt

Take a look at a Hobie rudder sometime. It's not troublesome wood.
And, a foil need not be thick to work well.

RWE

"Walt" wrote in message ...
| 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.
|
| //Walt

Talk about barely adequate . . .

http://www.boats.com/content/default...ontentid=10171

That silly little plastic boat needs a plastic centerboard.

RWE

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!