What kind of shape is pivot pin hole in the board? Round or worn? The board on Audasea (formerly Blue Feather Grace and before that Osprey and before that who knows?). While she was under the care of Thomas Howe, he drilled out the worn hole to about one inch, and installed some hard nylon bushings, which I think is a good modification. Wear on both the board and pin is minimal. It is a stainless bolt. Rear stopper pin was a really unique flat head screw....a big one....with threads for it tapped into the side of the keel (keeping with the JM concept of minimal drag I suspect). Anyway, the tang on the board had to rest on this bolt, and would hammer it pretty hard. I replaced it with a bigger bolt, and had to drill out the hole in the process.....so I now have a nut and bolt head protruding on the side of the keel. See pictures on the MSOG: http://www.msog.org/models/m17/m-17-cb.cfm To give the tang some more support, I also installed a bronze bushing on the bolt..inside the CB trunk....and had a slightly bigger tang welded on the board...as the original had worn down to the point where it was happier trying to "roll" or wedge past the stopper pin. Ideally, I think the bushing would be a flat topped (square), with flat tang on the CB to rest upon it. The gallows is an interesting concept....but I'm not sure how much clearance you would have under it at anchor. The boom swings pretty low above the cockpit when in use. If it worked it could double as a mast crutch when on the trailer. I guess you could measure it with the mainsail up and decide if you can live under it at anchor. I would not cut the sail down (up?) to get it to fit. But bimini's are out there...so it may work. Howard M17, #278 Audasea On 10/2/05 12:31 PM, "Brian Gilbert" <hammerguy@mindspring.com> wrote:

Hi all:

This question is for Jerry Montgomery, or anyone else who might have an answer... is the 1/2" SS centerboard bolt any sort of hardened or high-grade bolt, or is it plain old stainless steel? I just got mine out, and while it's straight, it's a little roughed up on the surface... I thought I shouldd replace it while it's out.

Also, I'm thinking of building a permanent boom gallows for the cockpit. I figure it could double as part of a bimini as well. Jerry, do think there's room, or would just be in the way?

Thanks all BG