I had the same problem with the daggerboard earlier in the summer. My boat is on a dry-out mooring and I tried everything including holding my breathe and snorkling under to try and free it. I tried powering at full throttle but no use. In the end I had the boat craned out and even then it took quite an effort to get the daggerboard out. It was caked with sticky mud!. Now I ensure it is lowered on a regular basis, even when stationary on the mooring, which seems to work.
I have a trailer and I know the dagger board can be removed on this but as my mooring is so close to home I find it easier to leave the boat afloat.
Haven't had the mud sticking problem but when I bought the boat I had it lifted out of the water to inspect underneath and while I was there pulled the dagger board fully down (only another inch or two) but when we tried to pull it back up again at the mooring it was stuck down! The PO got it freed by standing on the pontoon and swaying the boat from side to side.
My dagger board had had a few pounds of lead poured in - I don't think it helps stability much but it probably helps the board to sink when dropped. The board should have holes at the bottom to let water in and out and holes at the top to let air in and out. Mine also has a double pulley raising system (like on the main sheet) which gives greater pulling force - but it is still heavy.
The PO had also siliconed a length of water hose to the back edge of the daggerboard to stop it rattling overnight whilst moored - I trimmed it down to stop the daggerboard sticking again.
For what it's worth I would try buckets of water down the daggerboard slot from the top and a 2.4m length wire rod or plastic conduit poked down the down the front and back of the daggerboard (I think there is a good 10-20mm gap there) to try to free some of the mud then power the boat to try to flush through where you have started.
Do you know any more about the reason for the repair at the top of the daggerboard housing? Why was it necessary - how extensive was it? Could have something to do with it, but it is most likely only mud and grit from drying out.
Thanks Guys, all this extra input is so helpful and is giving me a more rounded picture of the entire issue.
My preference would naturally be to free the mud (assuming it's mud:)) from the top, in the manner suggested, rather than diving; having said that I did buy a pair of goggles while we were in Sainsburys this morning.
To get access for prodding down the db well I will need to remove the mast so I think the next step will be to free db upwards using a 4:1 block arrangement hung off the mast cleat.
Then I'll remove the mast and the db.
This should give me access to prod around all down the well with my trusty 2.5m plank and be able to get a good look at things.
Will let you know...
Thanks again to all
—
MacGregor 26M 2009 - Sky's the Limit - Suzuki DF50
You can get to the back of the daggerboard without lowering the mast.
If you do lower the mast on the water make sure you flood the ballast tank first for stability and choose a day with no wind. I assume you have a mast raising/lowering kit? Best to have a strong helper to limit sideways sway but if you do it alone then keep your weight low down on one knee, hold the furled jib/genoa under your arm/over your knee on the side towards any breeze to counter the drag to one side and to guide the mast down into the rear carrier - same when raising it.
The side supports on the mast raising kit can be lengthened/shortened but if too short will stop the mast from being pulled forward enough to release/refix the forestay.
The boom needs to be detached from the mast but the sail can stay threaded into the mast - so only one pin to release and then lay the end of the boom to one side of where the mast will come down or it could crush it into the roof.
Leaning over the prow to release/refix the forestay can be dodgy afloat - consider lying down and /or clipping on - and try not to drop the clevis pin!
We had planned a trip to the mooring today and a motor around the Carrick Roads - Mrs F's first off the mooring; and my second.
Priorities were,
1. Use tender outboard for first time and test the outboard bracket - hung from top of the pushpit mast rest thingy - this was a great success much to Mrs F's delight and consequently mine.
2. Flushed by success in 1. I wanted to try to free up the stuck daggerboard by rigging a 4:1 purchase using the bits and pieces intended for my new vang. This went well, hanging it from one of the mast cleats. It took some fair degree of force but in the end what I presume was a load of gloopy mud gave up the struggle.
I then let it down again (not wanting it to get stuck in the fully up position when I returned by myself on Wednesday to haul it out completely, having lowered the mast). I decided to give it another lift, having gone to the trouble of rigging my purchase, this time it needed even more effort which was slightly worrying.
I then let it down again, happy that I could continue on Wednesday. It was as I let it down that the miracle occurred. It just didn't want to stop going down. This was a shock as I'd never seen this happen before and I caught it quickly with my 4:1 being concerned that, if I let it down, I might not be able to get it up and the consequences of this possibility were more concerning the it being jammed up.
Needless to say, after a rest, I experimented lowering and raising, a little more each time until I had it going fully up and down WITH NO STICKING.
As you can imagine I was like a dog with two tails.
In the end we never left the mooring, needing to get back for our dog, but enjoyed our 3rd mooring picnic in some glorious sunshine and light winds.
Thanks so much to everyone who has helped with advice and encouragement with this, I have to say I was quite concerned so it's lovely that the way forward is now open for my first Mac sail on Saturday.
Thank you!
—
MacGregor 26M 2009 - Sky's the Limit - Suzuki DF50
I am assuming that some mud dried out jamming the board so maybe something like a hand pumped pressure washer might wet it and have the power to blast it out if you insert the nozzle into the top of the casing?
Thanks Harry, great pic, I'm used to working under my car but never my boat, thanks for your solidarity, much appreciated.
And thanks Roly, encouraging to hear a 26M can survive on a mud mooring.
MacGregor 26M 2009 - Sky's the Limit - Suzuki DF50
Hello.
I had the same problem with the daggerboard earlier in the summer. My boat is on a dry-out mooring and I tried everything including holding my breathe and snorkling under to try and free it. I tried powering at full throttle but no use. In the end I had the boat craned out and even then it took quite an effort to get the daggerboard out. It was caked with sticky mud!. Now I ensure it is lowered on a regular basis, even when stationary on the mooring, which seems to work.
I have a trailer and I know the dagger board can be removed on this but as my mooring is so close to home I find it easier to leave the boat afloat.
Haven't had the mud sticking problem but when I bought the boat I had it lifted out of the water to inspect underneath and while I was there pulled the dagger board fully down (only another inch or two) but when we tried to pull it back up again at the mooring it was stuck down! The PO got it freed by standing on the pontoon and swaying the boat from side to side.
My dagger board had had a few pounds of lead poured in - I don't think it helps stability much but it probably helps the board to sink when dropped. The board should have holes at the bottom to let water in and out and holes at the top to let air in and out. Mine also has a double pulley raising system (like on the main sheet) which gives greater pulling force - but it is still heavy.
The PO had also siliconed a length of water hose to the back edge of the daggerboard to stop it rattling overnight whilst moored - I trimmed it down to stop the daggerboard sticking again.
For what it's worth I would try buckets of water down the daggerboard slot from the top and a 2.4m length wire rod or plastic conduit poked down the down the front and back of the daggerboard (I think there is a good 10-20mm gap there) to try to free some of the mud then power the boat to try to flush through where you have started.
Do you know any more about the reason for the repair at the top of the daggerboard housing? Why was it necessary - how extensive was it? Could have something to do with it, but it is most likely only mud and grit from drying out.
Thanks Guys, all this extra input is so helpful and is giving me a more rounded picture of the entire issue.
My preference would naturally be to free the mud (assuming it's mud:)) from the top, in the manner suggested, rather than diving; having said that I did buy a pair of goggles while we were in Sainsburys this morning.
To get access for prodding down the db well I will need to remove the mast so I think the next step will be to free db upwards using a 4:1 block arrangement hung off the mast cleat.
Then I'll remove the mast and the db.
This should give me access to prod around all down the well with my trusty 2.5m plank and be able to get a good look at things.
Will let you know...
Thanks again to all
MacGregor 26M 2009 - Sky's the Limit - Suzuki DF50
You can get to the back of the daggerboard without lowering the mast.
If you do lower the mast on the water make sure you flood the ballast tank first for stability and choose a day with no wind. I assume you have a mast raising/lowering kit? Best to have a strong helper to limit sideways sway but if you do it alone then keep your weight low down on one knee, hold the furled jib/genoa under your arm/over your knee on the side towards any breeze to counter the drag to one side and to guide the mast down into the rear carrier - same when raising it.
The side supports on the mast raising kit can be lengthened/shortened but if too short will stop the mast from being pulled forward enough to release/refix the forestay.
The boom needs to be detached from the mast but the sail can stay threaded into the mast - so only one pin to release and then lay the end of the boom to one side of where the mast will come down or it could crush it into the roof.
Leaning over the prow to release/refix the forestay can be dodgy afloat - consider lying down and /or clipping on - and try not to drop the clevis pin!
Thanks Colin, I'll be careful, a crushed saloon roof doesn't sound good for my leak zapiska.
MacGregor 26M 2009 - Sky's the Limit - Suzuki DF50
Ok, looking like good news!
We had planned a trip to the mooring today and a motor around the Carrick Roads - Mrs F's first off the mooring; and my second.
Priorities were,
1. Use tender outboard for first time and test the outboard bracket - hung from top of the pushpit mast rest thingy - this was a great success much to Mrs F's delight and consequently mine.
2. Flushed by success in 1. I wanted to try to free up the stuck daggerboard by rigging a 4:1 purchase using the bits and pieces intended for my new vang. This went well, hanging it from one of the mast cleats. It took some fair degree of force but in the end what I presume was a load of gloopy mud gave up the struggle.
I then let it down again (not wanting it to get stuck in the fully up position when I returned by myself on Wednesday to haul it out completely, having lowered the mast). I decided to give it another lift, having gone to the trouble of rigging my purchase, this time it needed even more effort which was slightly worrying.
I then let it down again, happy that I could continue on Wednesday. It was as I let it down that the miracle occurred. It just didn't want to stop going down. This was a shock as I'd never seen this happen before and I caught it quickly with my 4:1 being concerned that, if I let it down, I might not be able to get it up and the consequences of this possibility were more concerning the it being jammed up.
Needless to say, after a rest, I experimented lowering and raising, a little more each time until I had it going fully up and down WITH NO STICKING.
As you can imagine I was like a dog with two tails.
In the end we never left the mooring, needing to get back for our dog, but enjoyed our 3rd mooring picnic in some glorious sunshine and light winds.
Thanks so much to everyone who has helped with advice and encouragement with this, I have to say I was quite concerned so it's lovely that the way forward is now open for my first Mac sail on Saturday.
Thank you!
MacGregor 26M 2009 - Sky's the Limit - Suzuki DF50
You must be well chuffed. Perseverance pays off.
I am assuming that some mud dried out jamming the board so maybe something like a hand pumped pressure washer might wet it and have the power to blast it out if you insert the nozzle into the top of the casing?
https://www.driveden.com/car-care-tools-c387/car-cleaning-c176/portable-...
Enjoy Saturday
Simon
Thanks Simon, it certainly was a relief. I think I scared the family picnicking on the beach with my whoop of joy.
I just need to remember to lower and raise it a few times on every visit.
Very many thanks again to all!
MacGregor 26M 2009 - Sky's the Limit - Suzuki DF50
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