Cape Cutter 19 Association Forum

I have slept a few nights on my CC now (four of us!) and I noticed a "clonking" noise, which is evidently the centre plate swinging against the side of the casing. At night when we were moored, I just raised the plate, but obviously its doing it all the time.

I'm wondering if it is normal for it to do that?

The bolt is done up tight (I checked that!) and the plate goes up and down easily.

Hi Charles

Interesting one

If you are on a swinging mooring and there is not much scope and there is a tidal stream or strong wind this will cause this.

I remember picking up a mooring off Holy Island on the Isle of Arran and spending a night sitting there in a F7 with the Centre Board clonking. I was bleary eyed the following morning! That was 6 years ago it has had no detrimental affect!

I did not have much scope on the mooring- I tried anchoring the following night with plenty of warp and had very little movement noise through the plate in similar conditions, probably because the boat could cock to the prevailing conditions. The only thing I had to do was set an anchor watch on my GPS.

Raising the plate does stop the noise but the boat rocked more as the C of G is higher.



Kind Regards

Simon CC40 Halcyon

Thanks for the reply, Simon.

I meant moderate rolling of the boat in gentle conditions. It is a clearly audible sound. Doesn't sound damaging, but was irritating at night. It does sound as if the centre plate is loose in some way. Spoke to Norma at Honnor and she said that was normal.

Sounds as if we havevsame problem as erbster. We were out in fairly big seas and centre plate was clonking each time the boat rolled, not only irritating but also slightly worrying as we were a couple of miles offshore. Should i worry?

I have same issue when over-nighting at sea.
Nothing to worry about, just characteristic of this boat.
Have made a small wooden wedge. Just have to dive in before sleep, and wedge between hull and keel. Works great.
In morning go in again and remove. 2 min. work.

Michiel wrote:Have made a small wooden wedge. Just have to dive in before sleep, and wedge between hull and keel. Works great.
In morning go in again and remove. 2 min. work.

You would not do that on Kielder Water.

Mine clonks when running (the keel that is), and also when on its (swinging) mooring.

Not a problem. I have done a fair bit of sailing in Drascombe Luggers and Coasters, they clunk even more and louder!

They have to be built with a bit of clearance, otherwise a few grains of sand after drying out could cause the keel to jam.

Last time we slept on the boat, I raised the plate for the night, which solved the problem. Do people think this would be OK if at anchor/on a mooring, as opposed to moored to a pontoon?

erbster wrote:Last time we slept on the boat, I raised the plate for the night, which solved the problem. Do people think this would be OK if at anchor/on a mooring, as opposed to moored to a pontoon?

Yes.

Presumably you would be onboard, if you are happy with the slightly increased rocking, no problem.

Thanks Dennis.
Off to Anglesey for the bank hol wk. I am expecting to overnight on anchor for some of the time.

First "big" trip for us....

I sailed with Erbster on Sunday and was surprised at how noisy this clonking noise is. I don't get anything like it with Zephyr. Even under sail the clonking is frequent and loud. Are there any bushes which could have worn?