October 2011 Issue No. 197 - Navigator Publishing

Givinga centerboarda liftStory and photosby Andy SchellMy boat is a 1966Allied Seabreezeyawl named Arcturus.The early boats (Arcturusis hull number 56) werereferred to as the ‘bronzeboats’ — in part because theyfeatured a hefty 400-poundbronze centerboard. I eventuallydecided the centerboardlift mechanism needed to bemodified to keep the bronzemonster under control.The centerboard liftingmechanism was solidly builtbut was too complex. A shackleattached a 7x19 wire to theboard, about one third of itslength aft from the hinge pin.The cable turned over a fourinchwire sheave in the keel,and continued inside a smallbronze tube under the cabinsole. Aft, a second bronzesheavebox was positionedunder the engine, wherebythe cable turned upwards,continuing through anotherbronze pipe, until it exited inthe portside cockpit locker andwas wound around a bronzeworm-gear winch, operatedfrom the cockpit. This setupneeded updating and I decidedto simplify its design and createsomething more serviceable.My modification was a bigdeparture from original, andtook five or six drawings beforeI was completely happy with it.I envisioned a liftingarrangement that requiredno sheaves and that could beserviced at sea — simply a linegoing straight to the boardthrough the bottom of thekeel. I thought I could accomplishthis by replacing the lidof the keel sheavebox witha stainless steel plate, ontowhich a stainless pipe wouldbe welded. The pipe wouldspan the cabin interior fromthe keel to the coachroof, andthe cable would run inside it,exiting on deck level and ledto a normal cockpit winch.A sailor, friend and worldrenownedsculptor, RodneyCarroll, has a large workshopin an old warehouse in Baltimoreand invited me up touse it. He could also help withthe welds, with which I hadno experience. Carroll and I46www.oceannavigator.com