Leeboard slot

I made a board with a slot in it, which was supposed to be attached to the deck above the leeboard pivot bolt, but it seemed clunky and that it would protrude too much and get in the way of paddling.

So I asked John to look at it and see if there was another way of doing it. And there is:

A bent stainless rod with tabs welded on

The upper board guard was added previously, to make the inboard edge of a slot to capture the top of the board. The board guards, upper and lower, are straight and in the same plane, designed to keep the board aligned with the centreline of the boat.

Due to the forces of the water on the board, it's supposed to stay in the vertical position while underway without needing to be tied. If it turns out that it doesn't, a bungee cord will work, back from the hole in the handle to the aka just aft.

Before the tabs were fastened to the deck, oversize holes were drilled in the deck and filled back in with epoxy filled with chopped strand (glass). After the epoxy hardened, proper sized holes for the bolts were drilled through the epoxy-glass area and backing plates that had been previously installed.

Below shows the board fully up. It will be tied up in this position when putting into and pulling out of the water. I'll be taking the board off for car-topping. I can tighten it with a wing-nut on the inside of the boat.