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125 Discussion Forum
Please note: This forum is read by a wide group of 125 sailors.
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Return to the Forum List  Replacing a centrecase - have you done it? |  I am currently in the process of renovating my wooden 125 which has so far involved stripping the fittings and removing the paint and epoxy with a heat gun and a scraper. The boat is in great nick, except for the centrecase, as the plywood has delaminated and wrinkles up when wet. A new centrecase is in order - a big job. I know there are screws driving up through the hull into the bottom of the centrecase - I assume the best way to access these is to sand the hull until the filled holes appear? Also, I have removed all the screws in the thwart prior to removal - is there anything else I should do before I hit it underneath with a hammer to break the glue? I plan to keep the hull red, but want an all wooden interior so when it's all going back together can I coat it in epoxy and leave it, or is there another product that needs to go over that? Thanks for any advice.
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| | Re: Replacing a centrecase - have you done it? | Yes it is relatively easy to replace a 125 centrecase.
Firstly ask yourself why the old one failed so that you do not repeat the mistake.
The answer is probably that the builder did not use marine ply and/or did not seal the inside before gluing the 2 halves together.
Download the building instructions from this website and if in SA send me an email and I will show you how to remove the old case with minimal hull damage.
From your picture it appears to be an older hull pre 1500 rego numbers. If so the glues used were before the epoxy era and will come apart surprisingly easy.
DO NOT belt from the bottom as you will fracture the ply to keel join and this becomes a major ongoing problem.
Get a sharp chisel and nibble away the case logs along the bottom of the centrecase. Tear them off in small pieces to avoid keel damage. You will come across the screws and other fasteners from the inside, making location and removal easy. Try to keep the plywood sides of the original case intact to use as a pattern for replacement.
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| | Re: Replacing a centrecase - have you done it? |  Thank you Don for your advice. I am now in the process of removing the paint from around the bottom of the centrecase so I can see where the lower batons join the ply attached to the keel. I am having a lot of fun as I am now approaching the job with confidence. I might come back to you if I hit any roadblocks however! I would gladly accept your offer to demonstrate this method but I live in the ACT - but thank you regardless! I hope to have the boat back together and ready before the next season as a local sailing club in Canberra has sourced a number of 125s to race when it warms up.
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