Dinghy: centerboard or leeboard?

[Ian McColgin]

I favor a board in any boat, even if not sailed, because it also facilitates rowing to weather in a hard chance. I could not readily get my dink to weather in much more than a Strong Breeze (Force 6, 25 knots) until I added a board that allows me to tack rowing upwind. Now I can manage the mile to my mooring against a Gale (Force 8, 35 knots).

I don't like a centerboard for space reasons nor a dagger board. I actually use just one pivoting side board - works ok when it's on the weather side. I put it on the dink's starboard side so it's more out of the way in my usual landing on Marmalade's starboard side. It's actually made out of an old oar blade pivoting under the gunnel against a smallish flat I built up on the hull. Operates through a lever to the inside so reachable.

Wen rowing, I adjust the angle depending on wind and direction. It's helpful to have it as obliquely down as possible putting it's center of resistance further aft. Depending on loading.

Most useful and handy.

G'luck

[benz]

Thanks for the replies. Your method, Ian, sounds most interesting. I have only rarely tried to row through a gale and always found it wet, deperate, and unpleasant; far better to have stayed aboard that day, if at all possible.
I'm going to build a test model first for sea trials before I build the real thing, so I guess I can put a trunk in it and try it both ways before I commit to the real thing.