Are daggerboards retractable?
they lift up, but the boat does not track (or tack) well without them (loses some ability to point towards the wind)

centerboards "retract" into the hulls (pivot upward and "hide" in the hulls) -

sailing with the boards down is really not a good option ... it will make tacking harder and sailing less efficient

it sounds like you need a prindle 16 for the lake and a 18' cat for the salt lake.