Thread: Galv steel centreboard

hereselmo1,
Firstly, I assume you know what will happen if it breaks?
Secondly there is no attachment.(I do that a lot)
Stuart

What do you mean no attachment

What do you mean when it breaks??? That sounds ominous.

A place where I worked made one of these for someone. It came back from the galvanisers dished. The heat from hot-dipping had relieved the stresses around the edges created by cutting. I can't remember how it was cut (it was outsourced). We hammered the snot out of it, all around the edges and got it reasonably flat, but the galv was damaged so I dunno how useful the whole process was. My point is, be very careful about hot dipping anything that's had any hot processing like welding or cutting. I don't know about water cutting. Maybe that would be ok?

Sorry must be my eye sight in the morning, I can see it now

Well how ominous depends on how you feel about getting wet. If it breaks the boat tips over. Having seen the drawing. I doubt you'll break it

How much is the boat going to be in the salt(?) water? I'll be tempted to paint it. Assuming that removing it isn't to much of a drama.

If you wanted to shape it yourself, I'd think most steel places would be able to get it in if they dont carry it.

Which way to the bow in the drawing? right or down?

Stuart

Could you use 316 stainless steel instead? The cost would probably be the same by the time you add up the steel plate, the cutting to shape, sand blasting and galvanizing as well as the cost to transport it around to the different places.

Dave

Stuart,

It will probably be only used in the salt water but being a trailer sailer it will spend most of its time out of the water.

I am keen to galv it because I know myself and know I am unlikely to pull it out regularly to repaint it etc.

I have looked at the stainless steel option and it seems to be very expensive ( i have seen one for $1100!).

Bow to the right. That drawing is how the centreboard would look when it is out of the water. Once in the water it piviots around a pin in that bottom right hole and the left hand side of the board drops down into the water.

Whats the rest of the boat made out of?
If you can weld SS you could build one up out of 3mm sheet(might be cheaper no idea, would be a lot of welding though)

oops "right or down" should have been "right and down" i.e to the right when its up and down when its down. I was wondering why the bottom was cut off on that angle. I assume its so it will pivot into the center board casing

Stuart

The rest of the boat is made of wood and ply. And I know it is probably sacriledge on this board but I dont know how to weld

Don't worry, you would be surprised a lot don't weld on here.
You could always make it out of sheet like Stuart said and make a wing centre board.

Shop around for the stainless steel, you might get a good price for an off cut they have laying around. From what I can see it would be the best option and last many years without maintenance and could even be polished.

I think the local gal place around here has a $200-$250 minimum, so another job would have to go with it.

Dave

Originally Posted by hereselmo1

If I do it myself. Where so I get the steel from?
Do I cut it out/shape it with an angle grinder?
Where can I get it Galvanised in Adelaide?

Any number of places will sell you the steel, Basic Steel Supplies, Southern Steel Supplies down south, Senturion Steel on Cavan Road.

Cutting it out could be done with oxy/acetylene or a grinder (you'd need a 9" ideally though). Ideally you'd buy the steel sized for the outline so all you need to do is cut out the angled bits at each end. Rounding off the edges could be done with a flap wheel in a 4 or 5" grinder. Do you have any grinders?

Galvanising, you could try Adelaide Galvanising Industries (AGI - About Adelaide Galvanising Industries) I have never dealt with them but they are opposite General Tools.

HI,
In My Opinion You would be Waisting Your Money getting it Galvanised if its going in Salt Water. Galvanising is Zinc - Right? and Sacrificial Anodes are made Zinc and/or Aluminium. Basically the Galvanising will just Act as an Anode and slowly eat away. You would be better of Making one from Ply and Glass over it and then Flowcoat (Gelcoat) it. Or Make from Straight Steel or Stainless Steel. Try a few Scrap Metal Dealers or Steel Recyclers. Suggestion for Cutting it out - Plasma Cutter.
Just My Opinion.

Jeez I don"t know I have a galvanised steel anchor that is at least 25 years old and has spent alot of time being dragged through sand and rock in its lifetime , it has most of the galv still on it and very little rust .
One thing is with zinc ,it will grow back where it gets scratched.

I reckon gal plate would be ok for a center board , what frightens me is that by the drawing it is hanging on a 1/4 bolt only .

Kev.

I Dumbly forgot about Gal Anchors . How Dumb of Me and I work with Boats all the Time. Thanks Woodlee.

Kev,
That 9/32" hole is just for raising and lowering. It pivots on the 7/8" hole.
Stuart