Just a guess...

Posted By: Chris J, P19 "Rocky" SLO CA
Date: 2/6/10 5:55p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: lighter P-19 Daggerboard (link) (Ron Hoddinott)

I thought about that back when I bought my P19. My reasoning is, as long as the total weight stayed the same, there could only be an improvement in performance. I figured the way to go would be a carbon-fiber foil shaped board with a steel core and lead bulb on the bottom to bring the total weight up to 300# or so. Of course, making something like that is no trivial task, so it stayed in the dream stage, and subsequently I've gotten comfortable with my boat the way it is. This sort of thing has been discussed here before, but as far as I know, no one has tried it yet. The only potential downside anyone has mentioned is that it would increase the stress on the standing rigging -- the stiffer boat would possibly require heavier shrouds. I don't know. A marine engineer would have to look at that I guess. The only thing I can say for sure is, the total weight of the board needs to stay pretty close to the same, as it is ballast.