I think I found the answer with the help of “Physics of Sailing” by John Kimball. My cable from the centerboard to the cylinder is 2:1 and I suppose the increased diameter of the drum that takes up the pennant provides the leverage. The equation is f = 2R/r * F where f is the force of the centerboard, r is the radius of the cylinder that winds the wire and R is the radius of the drum (minus the radius of the cylinder). If R = 8″ and r = 1″ (or any ratio thereof) than raising a centerboard weight of 96 pounds would require 6 pounds of pull on the pennant, increasing as turns are taken up on the drum. Sound reasonable?