The fore-end, A, in the case of a fixed centre-board, is bolted to keel by a pin through the hole in the corner; but a rather more oomph sated arrangement is necessary in order that the plate may be lifted out the canoe easily when afloat or aground. See Fig. 131.
L in Fig. 131 is the fore-end of the centre-board case sloping forty: in the arc of a circle, with centre at B radius B A (Fig. 129). The H (Fig. 131), is bolted through the keel at three-quarters of an inch fi the fore-end of the slot. A brass-bound iron pipe, E (half-inch chair outside), in length equal to the depth from top of deck to bottom of I is bound round, half an inch from one end, by a piece of sheet bras: Sin. by 1 lin., which is securely brazed on. The fore-end of the eel board, A, is bolted by the rivet, GI-, to both sides of the brass plate The other end of the rod, E, on deck is fitted with a brass ring to serve as handle. The bolt, H, prevents the rod, E, from shifting aft, or dropping below the level of the keel. The chain at the after-end of the centre-board is about a yard long, and leads over a pulley, M (Fig. 132), and through a snatch block, N, both with chain sheaves turned to the shape, R, which gives a bird's-eye view of the deck. The snatch block, N, is so constructed that the side can be opened so as to slip the chain into the block, and it can then be closed, so that when the centre-board is lowered, the fore-end of the buffer, 0, brings up against the block. The buffer, 0, is an india rubber cylinder, 1 lin. diameter outside, with tin. hole through it, brass capped at each end. The chain runs through this buffer, which eases the shook when the centre-board is let go by the run. Without this check
the momentum of 601b. dropping 18in. would carry away the block, N. The line, P, is made fast to an eye-bolt in the side deck near the hand, and leads through a brass-bound block at 8, and is the tackle by which the plate is hauled up, the line being fastened to a cleat on deck.
It is easy enough to take out the centre-board when the canoe is lying on the shore ; but on a cruise it is often necessary to lighten the boat while she lies afloat alongside a rock or jetty, over which she has to be dragged. In this case the centre-board is hauled up by its tackle nearly as far as it will go. The skipper then goes forward, and, with one foot on the fore-deck alongside the centre-board trunk, lays hold of the handle or ring in the top of the rod, E, and pulls it up until its foot is clear of the trunk. It is then swung forward a little, and allowed to rest on the deck at the fore-end of the trunk. A pin is then passed through the hole, E (Fig. 129), to prevent the after-end of the centre-board dropping while the line P is cast off, and overhauled from the block S. The snatch block, N, is then opened, the chain is free, and the centre-board can be lifted ashore by the handle D, or by a hand each to the rod E and the chain. The after centre-board, being quite in the stern, should not be too heavy, but must have weight enough to ensure its dropping freely when let go.
The tackle for working the centre-boards is kept on deck, so as to be available in rough-water sailing when the hatches are battened down, and the well is inaccessible except at the expense of a good drenching.