Our centerboard weighs 500 lbs or so, and goes down 11 feet on full extension. We do not keep it down when going to windward, but about 1/2 way. That is mainly because of the lobster pots in Maine waters, where we sail. We keep it down about 2 feet when motoring in tight places to give some more directional stability to a 28,000 lb vessel. Where it comes in really handy though is going downwind in rolling conditions. It steadies the boat motion out immensely. If you keep a few feet down going into a shallow anchorage (slowly, of course) the board can act as a "bump" signal, before snagging the rudder. So, we use it more for those circumstances than going upwind. If we where racing though, we would use it more when going to windward. We really love our centerboard. It gives you some deeper draft, keeps the boat motion comfortable, and signals us when we are too shallow. We change the pennant (Spectra) every few years, but have the pivot mechanism inspected annually. Never had a mechanical issue with the board, and the boat is going on 30 years young...mnh