Epoxy

"Epoxy can make a boatbuilder out of anyone." - Tom Hyslop

Thank god. I picked up a 9" disc/6" belt sander recently, and prompty turned a straight 1" piece of mahogany (the centerboard cap cleat, AFTER it was epoxied to the case side) into something that more properly belongs in a Picasso. Oh well. That's what epoxy is for. It won't look pretty, but a little treatment with thickened epoxy will make the joint watertight, and that's the goal at the end of the day. Besides, the area will be tucked under the trunk cap, so it won't be seen. At least that's what I tell myself.

For those building her: Based on a comment I read on the Glen-L forum, I made a couple changes to the centerboard case. The changes are being made in response to a builder who noticed that, over time, the case sides began to warp, causing the centerboard to seize in the case (e.g. not deploy completely). So I did a couple things: 1.) use 3/8" plywood rather than 1/4" for the sides, and 2.) run diagonal braces on either side of the case. The "high" side of the diagonals are at the aft end of the case; it is through these braces that I will drill a hole for a pin that will be used to hold the centerboard in the "up" position when not in use. FYI, I am using 2.5" x 1" mahogany for the braces; I had really screwed up a couple cuts and ended up with some expensive scrapwood which I then ripped to width and used for the braces.

The change in width of the centerboard case concerns me slightly, because it will require an accompanying increase in the width of the void that needs to be cut into the keel to accommodate it. However, I am simply going to go with blind faith here. Blind faith and a TON of epoxy.