Centreboard keel???? Please help

[graemey]

Hey there guys.
I have a 6 ft or so fibreglass boat and i noticed it is missing the middle fin/centreboard, im new to boating and was wondering do i need one? does it improve stability? thanks

[rwatson]

Ah - bit more info ... sail, power, paddle - can you send a picture.

Not a lot ot go on my friend!

[alan white]

If there is a slot through to the bottom ,you don't have the dagger board (as it's called when it doesn't swing but lifts straight out), then you have a sailboat (more properly a sailing dinghy or pram).
You therefore have a sail and a rudder.
If so, find a plywood board that will slip loosely into the slot, and screw two 3/4" x 3/4" cleats on each side about four inches down from the top, and make a slot for your hand to lift the board out.
The board can be 24" longer than the height of the slot it fits through. It should be rounded off on all of its edges and painted well. The edges could be fiberglass-taped as well with two layers, prior to painting.

Alan

[PAR]

No, it doesn't add anything to the stability of the boat. Most every boat that size will be "tender", a term we use to describe an easily tipped boat. It's a function of size mostly in very small boats.