John Robertson
10-06-2005, 11:16 am
The construction of the G30 centerboard models seems to vary widely. I own one the centerboard of which is raised by a SS cable that runs through a hole in what appears to be a bronze plate mounted between the keel and hull. The cable turns ninety degrees at the plate, using the plate as a friction bearing. The cable is then attached to a SS piston with a stuffing box to exit the centerboard trunk. The other end of the SS piston is connected to a SS cable that is lead to a winch in the starboard cockpit locker. Over time, the SS cable has sawed into the plate, so the hole is now keyhole shaped. It rapidly cuts into the SS cable to the centerboard, causing frequent replacement. Has anyone encountered this problem and successfully solved it? I would appreciate any help that anyone could offer. The other G30 centerboard model I have seen routed the centerboard lift cable through a SS tube up and back to a point above the waterline and terminated at a winch in the same cockpit locker. The owner has given up on the centerboard due to numerous pennant breaks. He converted the boat to a shallow draft keel by sealing up the centerboard well and adding a lead keel shoe.