Protect Your Centrecase Gaskets

Here are 4 tips to maximize the life of the centrecase gaskets by stopping them from folding sharply, creasing and eventually splitting.

1. (This is an “old school” method) Add adhesive sail cloth material to the lips of the centrecase. Before you install the gaskets, wrap adhesive fabric from the edge of the hard plastic next to the board on the bottom, around the lips and into the inside of the centrecase.
2. Spray CRC “Dry Glide” PTFE Spray onto the inside and the outside of the gaskets, and onto the daggerboard. You can buy “Dry Glide” from Bunnings. It is a Teflon type spray, and is dry to the touch after application.
3. Don’t leave your board with the bottom towards the sun. The sun will make the gasket material brittle and it will not flex, but crease or crack.
4. Operating the daggerboard: First take the load off the sail and daggerboard. Move the daggerboard from all the way up to all the way down, or vice versa, before powering up the sail.
   • If you rotate the daggerboard half way and then back the other way, the gaskets will get folded over and jammed between the centrecase and the daggerboard, so the gaskets will eventually split. You will then need to buy new gaskets.
   • You can do fine adjustments to daggerboard rake for up wind tuning without load and without getting them jammed.