Peter,

Yes, those pieces of tubing are meant to be flexible spacers or shock absorbers.  They are just clear PCV tubing available at any hardware store.  If yours are rock hard; then, it would be cheap insurance to replace them.

Regarding your issue wherein the centerboard won’t come all the way down, have you checked the top of the centerboard well forward of the pivot?  I’m thinking there might be something like a glob of mud, or a rock, or a stick or ? stuck up in there that’s limiting the range of motion of the centerboard.  Also, is your centerboard pennant long enough to allow full range of motion?

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
1978 Sanford, MI

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 25, 2024, at 8:54 AM, peter beckerman via Rhodes22-list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org> wrote:
>
> I figured I should start a new (related) thread.
> I've only ever been able to partially deploy my centerboard, but when partially down it'll "thump" a bit as the boat rocks back and forth.  Since I have the centerboard cap off trying to figure out why the board won't fully deploy, I figured I'd take a look at the pivot slot.  Overall the slot looks okay, with just a bit of obvious wear and tear, mostly to the paint.   I noticed that when the board is moved so that the pivot pin is firm against one side of the slot, there's about 1/4 inch of space between the pin and the other side of the slot.  I'm wondering if this is about the proper tolerance or if there's too much of a gap?  Also, there were two lengths of vinyl tubing placed in the slot on port and starboard sides of the centerboard.  Are these supposed to be shock absorbers?  I guess they would also discourage the  board from moving up into the slot during a grounding.  Mine are hard as a rock and I suppose they should be replaced with something more flexible.  Any thoughts?
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