Centreboard Case



Building the Centreboard Case
The centreboard case is constructed first and needs to be accurately made. The case is made up of 2 plywood sides and 9 pieces of hardwood.


The aft inner case log is made in 2 parts. A slot is needed to fit the aft girder to, this was cut by drilling a row of holes and then chiselling out the waste wood.


Aft inner case log showing the slot which has been chiselled out. The small section of wood was left in place to prevent splitting and was cut out last.


Trial fit of the aft inner case log, centerboard case side and aft girder.


Both parts of the aft inner case log.


The forward inner case log is made in 2 parts. A slot is needed to fit the forward girder to, this was cut in the same way as the aft inner case log.


Forward inner case log.


Both parts of the forward inner case log.


The centreboard case bed logs have been fitted to the bottom of the centreboard case. These are iroko which replaced the utile which was twisted and wouldn't cut or plane straight as this just released more tension in the wood causing it to twist more.

The case top had a slot routed in it to take the centreboard and is fitted to hardwood fillets. I decided not to half check a piece across the top to stop the forward end splitting as this would have released tension in the wood causing it to twist. If it starts to split in use I will have to do this.




The edge of the case top has been rounded and 12mm ply added to strengthen the centreboard case where the centreboard pivots..


The case top is tapered at the aft end and 2 slots are cut in it to fit around the centreboard case sides

All the parts were now unscrewed. The inner case logs glued and screwed to one of the case sides. The bed logs and fillets screwed to each of the case sides. The inside of each case side was coated with 4 coats of epoxy which was allowed to gel between coats.

Finally the two sides were glued and screwed together and the case top glued and screwed to the sides.

There is now more than a pile of wood to show for all this work!


The first plank attaches to the centreboard case bed logs. The time I spent levelling these was time well spent. One end was levelled by measuring the distance between a straight piece of wood placed across the bed logs and a try square aligned with the datum marked on each of the case sides. Once one end was level a second straight piece of wood was placed across the case bed logs and sighted along.

Centreboard Case