Centreplate

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Donald - Tue 20 Dec 2005 16:48:51 New centreplate is currently being made at the local blacksmith from 6mm mild steel which will be galvanised. Using the old one as a pattern BUT suggestions sought as to an easy way of fitting it as the old one was so badly corroded it fell out. It also appears to have been 6mm mild steel but not galvanised. I see that according to the drawing of Sophie's plate that it is 1cm thick - is that correct? Also, where is the swivel bolt located? I have never seen it when antifouling but it must be there somewhere!

Replies

Edward - Wed 21 Dec 2005 13:29:19 See the link - Sophie's Log - fixing Sophie's keel on the Manta home page

Mark - Thu 22 Dec 2005 22:01:56 I had a magazine article that suggested that the centre should weigh 25kg and at 1cm thick this was right for the suggested weight. It fitted into the slot on Sophie's stub keel very snuggly so I would use 9mm if I was going to keep the hull afloat the whole season just to make sure that it wouldn't stick if it corrodes a bit.

I fitted Sophie's plate by attaching the lifting chain and aligning the plate in the slot in the raised position. I marked the bolt position using a pen through bolt hole on the keel and then drilled the hole in the plate. I made sure that the plate wasn't proud when raised as I was concerned that the boat's weight would be entirely on the centre plate (and therefore the bolt) when the boat was on the trailer. To get it as I wanted it took a little 'fine tuning' with an angle grinder.

Good luck.

Donald - Sun 08 Jan 2006 12:08:01 Mark, apologies for not thanking you sooner for the info but I have not logged on for a while. The existing plate looks to have been fabricated from 6mm plate, and even at that it occasionally stuck. Lazy Daze is on a drying mooring with a mixture of sand, mud and molluscs all trying to gum up the works. The new one will be galvanised which will add a little to the dimensions. To fit, I was contemplating beaching the boat between tides and careening her over on her side as a crane is not readily available. I will update this thread as things develop for others who may be in a similar position.

donald - Tue 07 Feb 2006 09:28:01 just in case you thought i had forgotten, i am still waiting on the plate being galvanised. should be ready by end of february.

Donald - Mon 01 May 2006 22:55:51 If you are still there waiting with baited breath, here is the latest news.

New centre plate (6mm steel plate) galvanised and anti-fouled fitted today. Original may have bee 1cm but the one I am replacing was 6mm and worked OK. Also less chance of jamming. After much puzzling over the way to to do it without lifting the boat I decided to beach her and tip her on her side. Careening is the technical term I understand. Anyhoo - how to do the tipping? Boat lying on port side on beach. Success was achieved by leading a long strong rope under the port side of the keel then up over the starboard gunwhale, over over the topsides to port so that both ends were of equal length. They were joined then led to a winch strap, which led to a winch attached to the towball of my car parked in a suitable position. A gentle turn of the handle saw "Lazy Daze" gently tip onto her port side and wave her stub keel in the air ready for the centre plate to be slotted in. The swivel bolt I had previously ensured was easily undone (stainless 8mm allen key head with M10 thread on starboard side of keel). And thinking about what would have to be done if it was seized was the worst part of the job. It wasn't and everything else was plain sailing so to speak.

Best of luck with yours!

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