It is time for me to replace my centerboard pennant--now 6 years old.
The yard likes to go with stainless steel wire, which is the same as the original pennant delivered with the boat when new in 1995. I am considering using an equivalent or stronger dyneema line but have a few questions for the list before I proceed. 1. A portion of the pennant is always exposed to the sun--between the aft cabin top winch and the turning blocks which direct the line below thru the SS tubes. How does this portion of the line get protected from the UV? I think a covered line would provide protection but the cover may not fit thru the SS tubes which take the line to the board. Further, the cover on the line should probably not stay in the water below the surface since it is likely not dyneema. 2. The current SS wire is bent in a loop and swaged and led to a winch with a 3:1 purchase. In the up position, the purchase and winch (and line clutch) hold the board up. When the board is fully extended, it is stopped by a fitting that 'catches' the swage and stops the board at a depth of ~ 7' 3". At this depth, the leading edge of the board matches the leading edge of the centerboard trunk (and the board is supported against athwartship forces by the trunk).Thus the board is always held by the pennant, whether it is up or down. Without a swage fitting, how will the line hold the board up while it is extended? Hopefully some center-boarders on the list have switched to line and come up with solutions. Thanks, Charlie Nelson Water Phantom C&C 36 XL/kcb cenel...@aol.com
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