MC-Scow Board Height Adjuster

One go-fast technique for many types of boats is to raise the centerboard or lee boards a few inches to counteract weather helm as the breeze builds. This moves the boat’s center of lateral resistance aft to align with the center of effort of the sails. C-Scows have tracks to adjust board height; the MCs do not.

In the MC-Scow you should raise the boards a maximum of 2 – 3″ from the full down position in a big breeze. You could do this manually on each tack, or by adjusting the stopper knot on the pull-up line, but these are distractions you don’t need. A simple solution for the older style MCs (prior to #2478) is to add a board height adjuster.

There is a nice explanation of how to do this, with a parts list on the MC Scow website:  MC Board Height Adjustment. Just follow the the portion of the article labeled 1999 update; the 2:1 purchase discussed is already built in to most MCs. In summary, instead of having the board pull-up line end with a stopper knot at the bulkhead under the deck, you replace the single block on the bulkhead with a double block and extend the board line to a cam cleat in the cockpit.

I followed the instructions in MC-Scow website article, with one modification: I located my adjustment cleats further aft, at the aft end of the board box, instead of near the forward end.  This allows me to adjust the line without moving from the skipper’s position.

Pictures of my installation are shown below.

Managing Upwind Helm Balance
Raise Your Board in Heavy Air – Three Reasons