The water temp. lately has got me thinking there has to be a better way to get the rudder all the way down than shoving it down with my foot while swinging like a monkey on the rudder post. I'm dreaming of some attachment that uses the gin-pole as a crowbar to force the trailing edge down. Has anybody tackled this problem?
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downhaul
Hello, Yes it is getting cold! if it is a stock hunter rudder, there should be an eyelet or hole to attach a downhaul rope.Pull the rudder all the way up as if ready to trailer and check for this. If not, to install one would be worth it.Hope this helps.
Hello, Yes it is getting cold! if it is a stock hunter rudder, there should be an eyelet or hole to attach a downhaul rope.Pull the rudder all the way up as if ready to trailer and check for this. If not, to install one would be worth it.Hope this helps.
Does it work for you?
I have that rope fitted, but it doesn't get the rudder down for me - it's only good for tying it off so it doesn't ride up. Maybe my pivot bolt is too tight - do you loosen it to get the rudder down then tighten it up again?
I have that rope fitted, but it doesn't get the rudder down for me - it's only good for tying it off so it doesn't ride up. Maybe my pivot bolt is too tight - do you loosen it to get the rudder down then tighten it up again?
Loosen the pivot bolt
If you are not loosening the pivot you may be causing damage by forcing it down. Loosen the bolt and the will swing freely. It will allow you to pull it all the way down and pull up to 90 degrees when pull out of the water.
If you are not loosening the pivot you may be causing damage by forcing it down. Loosen the bolt and the will swing freely. It will allow you to pull it all the way down and pull up to 90 degrees when pull out of the water.
What I do....
I deal with this a lot as I keep the rudder up and out of the water when the boat is in the slip and because the channel is very shallow in some areas I tie off the rudder at a 40 degree angle until I clear into deeper water. I stand on the back transom (H240) and give the rudder a little push to get it started and then pull on the downhaul line to bring the rudder into the positon I want. I also tie off the downhaul line to the cleat to secure it in place. I have tried the wingbolt to hold the rudder in place instead of tieing off the line, but under sail, the wingbolt fails to hold the rudder down and the rudder floats up to the surface. I have even tried using a wrench to secure donw the a bolt but then the rudder does not move at all and as I said, I need to bring it up to 45 degrees when I enter the channel. Overall it works very well and I feel fortunate having the hunter as many of the other boats with fixed keels or fixed rudders can not make it out of the channel or get stuck. Backing up with the rudder in the 45 degree position or even higher, maybe tough on the equipment, but when I stear, I use the rudder and the engine in combination. I am able to reach the engine handle while sitting on the starboard and I do have remote controls for the engine. More than you wanted to hear but I hope it may help. Daniel
I deal with this a lot as I keep the rudder up and out of the water when the boat is in the slip and because the channel is very shallow in some areas I tie off the rudder at a 40 degree angle until I clear into deeper water. I stand on the back transom (H240) and give the rudder a little push to get it started and then pull on the downhaul line to bring the rudder into the positon I want. I also tie off the downhaul line to the cleat to secure it in place. I have tried the wingbolt to hold the rudder in place instead of tieing off the line, but under sail, the wingbolt fails to hold the rudder down and the rudder floats up to the surface. I have even tried using a wrench to secure donw the a bolt but then the rudder does not move at all and as I said, I need to bring it up to 45 degrees when I enter the channel. Overall it works very well and I feel fortunate having the hunter as many of the other boats with fixed keels or fixed rudders can not make it out of the channel or get stuck. Backing up with the rudder in the 45 degree position or even higher, maybe tough on the equipment, but when I stear, I use the rudder and the engine in combination. I am able to reach the engine handle while sitting on the starboard and I do have remote controls for the engine. More than you wanted to hear but I hope it may help. Daniel
Keep swinging like a monkey
My H26 had a downhauluphaul line on the rudder. After a couple of years, I gave up and remove it. You had to sit on the cockpit floor to pull on it hard enough to raise the rudder, and the line often times got snagged between the rudder and the plates. Another thing that came to mind reading your posts responses - sailing in shallow water, you don't want to tie the line off. The idea is that if you do strike something, the rudder will kick up. So I lean out over the stern while standing on the swim ladder and reach down and pull the rudder up, or push it down. Another thing I did that has helped; I was having trouble keeping the rudder down over extended periods. It would raise part way and the tiller would then have pressure on it. I switched the pivot bolt with the tightening bolt. So the bolt with the wing nut is now the pivot bolt. Rudder stays in place, just a little further reach.
My H26 had a downhauluphaul line on the rudder. After a couple of years, I gave up and remove it. You had to sit on the cockpit floor to pull on it hard enough to raise the rudder, and the line often times got snagged between the rudder and the plates. Another thing that came to mind reading your posts responses - sailing in shallow water, you don't want to tie the line off. The idea is that if you do strike something, the rudder will kick up. So I lean out over the stern while standing on the swim ladder and reach down and pull the rudder up, or push it down. Another thing I did that has helped; I was having trouble keeping the rudder down over extended periods. It would raise part way and the tiller would then have pressure on it. I switched the pivot bolt with the tightening bolt. So the bolt with the wing nut is now the pivot bolt. Rudder stays in place, just a little further reach.
Swing it like a pendulum...
The rudder floats so what I do is grab both ropes, one in each hand, one for pulling it up & one for down and I alternate bobbing the rudder in the water. Once you get it high enough out of the water the momentum will carry it down with your downward pull until it is at its end of travel down below the boat. Cleat it off and hope you don't run into shallow waters! I'm adding a spring for accidental encounters next season. Hope this helps.
The rudder floats so what I do is grab both ropes, one in each hand, one for pulling it up & one for down and I alternate bobbing the rudder in the water. Once you get it high enough out of the water the momentum will carry it down with your downward pull until it is at its end of travel down below the boat. Cleat it off and hope you don't run into shallow waters! I'm adding a spring for accidental encounters next season. Hope this helps.
Tiller/Lever
I wandered over here by mistake (I'm usually on odayowners.com) but since I'm here let me share how it's done on my O'Day 20. The rudder downhaul (hold-down) cleat is on the bottom side of the tiller (see picture). That way I can use the tiller as a lever. I tie off the rope and lift the tiller then grab another bite and repeat the process until the rudder is all the way down. Another alterative to using your foot might be to try your boat hook? Happy sails, MArk
I wandered over here by mistake (I'm usually on odayowners.com) but since I'm here let me share how it's done on my O'Day 20. The rudder downhaul (hold-down) cleat is on the bottom side of the tiller (see picture). That way I can use the tiller as a lever. I tie off the rope and lift the tiller then grab another bite and repeat the process until the rudder is all the way down. Another alterative to using your foot might be to try your boat hook? Happy sails, MArk
Attachments
rudder creeping up
Check to see that your lines are not tangled and the bolt is loose before you try, otherwise forget it. I would not use a gin pole leaver arrangement due to the starting angle you could break/strain something that will break when you do not want it to, out sailing and not a the dock. Looks like the O'day has a stronger and possibley less bounant rudder., good idea though I use my foot, but seems like the swing like a monkey will work, as you drop it get ready for the first grab as it sinks and should be not problem after that. Or use you whiskering pole to start the downward plunge, could stand on transum to push down, would need the uphaul connected to the rudder so you have something to push against. If you slip, hope you can swim. Remember to tighten the nut again. The H240 creeping of the rudder while sailing is still my mif and yet to solve it, if ever! I just roughed up the nylon bushes on the rudder and put it back together and will use a cheater pole for tighening the wing nut. Seems like nylon agains stainless steel mixing with water spells lubrication plus, Please send me a solution to this one as only creeping 1/2 strains the handling, autohelm and me. My friends Cat 22 has a simular problem. I used a rubber stretchy to hold tention on the down haul, but even with a lot of pressure mine still crept up enough to make it a heaverly weathered helm.
Good luck
Check to see that your lines are not tangled and the bolt is loose before you try, otherwise forget it. I would not use a gin pole leaver arrangement due to the starting angle you could break/strain something that will break when you do not want it to, out sailing and not a the dock. Looks like the O'day has a stronger and possibley less bounant rudder., good idea though I use my foot, but seems like the swing like a monkey will work, as you drop it get ready for the first grab as it sinks and should be not problem after that. Or use you whiskering pole to start the downward plunge, could stand on transum to push down, would need the uphaul connected to the rudder so you have something to push against. If you slip, hope you can swim. Remember to tighten the nut again. The H240 creeping of the rudder while sailing is still my mif and yet to solve it, if ever! I just roughed up the nylon bushes on the rudder and put it back together and will use a cheater pole for tighening the wing nut. Seems like nylon agains stainless steel mixing with water spells lubrication plus, Please send me a solution to this one as only creeping 1/2 strains the handling, autohelm and me. My friends Cat 22 has a simular problem. I used a rubber stretchy to hold tention on the down haul, but even with a lot of pressure mine still crept up enough to make it a heaverly weathered helm.
Good luckI'm going to try it
I think the O'Day rig might work along with loosening the pivot bolt slightly (no more than I have to). The cleat is on top of the rudder post now, so if I add one to the tiller I might be able to pump it to haul it down. I still like the idea of tying the thing off - I too have had it float up on windy days. Maybe I should replace that tie-off cleat with something quicker to release in case it gets a little too shallow. Thanks all for the feedback.
I think the O'Day rig might work along with loosening the pivot bolt slightly (no more than I have to). The cleat is on top of the rudder post now, so if I add one to the tiller I might be able to pump it to haul it down. I still like the idea of tying the thing off - I too have had it float up on windy days. Maybe I should replace that tie-off cleat with something quicker to release in case it gets a little too shallow. Thanks all for the feedback.
Rudder Creep
Mike, I've tied off my rudder and it seems to work. I'm taking my rudder assembly apart in a few weeks and replacing the rubber holding pads along with the tiller shims. I'm anxious to see if this improves the creeping up of the rudder. PaulH S/V Linda Belle 95 H26
Mike, I've tied off my rudder and it seems to work. I'm taking my rudder assembly apart in a few weeks and replacing the rubber holding pads along with the tiller shims. I'm anxious to see if this improves the creeping up of the rudder. PaulH S/V Linda Belle 95 H26
Hey Paul Creeping
Seems like the 260 is totally different to the 240 rudder, as my 240 just has nylon shiins against stainless steel, so no hope of stopping it from creeping up. No yet anyway.
Seems like the 260 is totally different to the 240 rudder, as my 240 just has nylon shiins against stainless steel, so no hope of stopping it from creeping up. No yet anyway.
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