I just purchased a Ericson 25 centerboard, and noticed that the fiberglass on the centerboard is cracked. The steel underneath is starting to spread, and I think it is time to replace it. I don't know if it is stuck since it is sitting on a trailer, and the boat hasn't been used in about four years. I'm considering building an aluminum centerboard. Does the centerboard have to be as wide as the old one? My basic idea was to make one out of 1" thick aluminum. I would than use a heavy wall aluminum tubing as a spacer to make it the width of the slot. It would be one solid piece of tubing that is tig welding through the centerboard. I would round the front edge and taper the back edge with a vertical machining center. I would love to hear any other suggestions, or experiences that you have had repairing or fixing centerboards.