Boatnerd Discussion Forum

In researching scow-schooners, I was aboard one of the last working scow-schooners in San.Fran. CA. She has a centerboard as did almost all of the scow-schooners working those waters.

Most of the sailing shipwreck that I have dove on have a winch on deck at one end of the retractable keel. The centerboard keel was in a water tight box in the center of the boat line. The winch was usually worked by hand cranking. The centerboard keel would be lowered through a slotted well in the bottom of the hull. By lowing the centerboard keel it would provided lateral stability and help prevent drifting in the wind. When the boat approached shallow water the centerboard keel would be raised, allowing the vessel get closer to shore or banks for unloading cargo.

The center board is a retractable keel. Pulley, block and tackle, on older ships. Sailboats today my still use center boards, to allow trailering, as well as shallow water operation.

Saw the MHSD program Saturday, excellent program on the evolution of the Great Lake bulk cargo ship. The presentor mentioned that the early sailing vessels had a center board that was unique to the Great Lakes because of their shollower draft.

What is the center board?

How was it raised and lowered?