Centerboard on 26X - Frayed - Warning

[opie]

As older threads will confirm, the 26X centerboard line will tend to fray about 4 to 6 inches above the knot at the centerboard. I was taking a fun-only snorkel last weekend and decided to look under the boat. The line was held together by mere threads. It was 5/8" dock line that I put on it two seasons ago. I use the boat 9 months a year and use the CB alot, so I will check the line each season now. I was able to cut off the problem end of the line underwater and re-tie the knot, so I was ready to go. But, I wonder what would-a-happened if it broke at the wrong time...... Get out your snorkel and mask and go under your boat, 26X owners!!!

[Craig LaForce]

Mine has the stainless steel cable on it. I replaced it after 10 years because it had 1 strand at the deck level that had frayed.

It is very easy to use steel and it would seem to fix your problem. Just buy some flexible steel cable a few compression ovals , a thimble and a cheap nicopress tool (the kind with the bolts you tighten to get a swage. takes maybe an hour to replace and you shouldn't get suprised by a failure.

My one improvement was to add a pulley at the deck level to avoid sharp bending failure at the 90 degree turn it makes at the deck. It originally simply rode over a small piece of steel. Poor design feature there.

[opie]

Very interesting. Wire, that is. The owner's manual states that wire was original, but I thought I read here that most owners went for line instead because of corrosion in salt water causing problems with wire at the board under the boat. Any others out there with wire in salt water sailing and no problems? I am ready to go back to original wire, I think, with the pulley,

[Greg]

This cured the line fraying problem on my boat.

Centerboard Line Chafing Fix