Question about leeboard pivot

[MarioOfTheLake]

Hi,

I'm planning to add a leeboard like this to my pdracer:

https://www.pdracer.com/keel/side2.jpg

What is done in such a construction to avoid water seeping into the wood along the bolt? Epoxi the bolt in?
Or am I worrying about something that is no problem?

I'd rather not epoxi the bolt in because I'd rather not have a bolt sticking out from the side under normal operation.

Thanks in advance for your hints and help!

 

[jehardiman]

You can either seal the interior of the hole with epoxy, or better yet, epoxy in a bushing. Here in the US you can buy sintered bronze 0.5"/12mm ID ones at hardware stores for ~4 USD/4 euro. This means you can also put the nut on the inside (and possibly have the bolt epoxied through the leeboard if you don't want to bush it also).

 

[Tops]

On my PDR I used epoxy or sealant. I had the imspection hatch on axis with the bolt. I also remember welding the bolt to a plate with a screw or screws so the leeboard could be tightened/loosened with the lock nut and just one wrench. Spend some time considering the length of the bolt so the threads only stick out one leeboard (thickness)+2 washers+ 1 lock nut. The wood that held the bolt was pine 37mm thick. Sorry I could not find a picture of it so this will have to do.

 

[MarioOfTheLake]

Thanks! That's a useful ilustration!

 

[Tops]

You are welcome.
There was a plywood ring around the hole for the inspection port, to make the panel stiffer and have wood for the mounting screws.
Snippets of the 2x6, extra ring, and the hull before the inspection port and finishing below.
I painted the airboxes on the inside before closing them.
My biggest mistakes were not painting over the epoxy and not covering the boat when not in use.