My Mark II (1997) Catalina 22 needs a new rudder and tiller, and I'm considering buying the "C-22 Std Rudder w/ 1/2" Pintles Improved Fiberglass" from Catalina Direct. It's not cheap, but the salesman said it performs a lot better than the old kick-up rudder that I'd be replacing. I wonder if anyone here has any experience with these fiberglass rudders? I'd have to attach a new tiller myself, which I'm a little nervous about. It looks manageable, but I'm also wondering if anyone has any experience with that.
Fiberglass rudder from Catalina Direct
- Thread starter Matt Parfitt
- Start date
To my knowledge, they are the only aftermarket rudder available for the C22.
They are wonderful in every imaginable way, EXCEPT that they have a bad habit of the pintles breaking off without warning. @RudderCraft is aware of the weakness, and is not interested in remedying it. So, while I would buy one again in a heartbeat, I would also have very little choice NOT to. And I would absolutely retrofit the pintles as soon as possible, since Ruddercraft refuses to.
Here is the owner of Ruddercraft 's response to the complaint. It can be found in an earlier thread here in this forum.
They are wonderful in every imaginable way, EXCEPT that they have a bad habit of the pintles breaking off without warning. @RudderCraft is aware of the weakness, and is not interested in remedying it. So, while I would buy one again in a heartbeat, I would also have very little choice NOT to. And I would absolutely retrofit the pintles as soon as possible, since Ruddercraft refuses to.
Here is the owner of Ruddercraft 's response to the complaint. It can be found in an earlier thread here in this forum.
What many of us have is the "Catalina 22 High Performance Unifoil Kick Up Rudder Assembly" which is made by Rudder Craft. You can get it direct or from CD as well. Its performance sure beats sailing with a the original kick up rudder with the safety feature of the rudder kicking up automatically if it hits an obstruction.
CD:
www.catalinadirect.com
Rudder Craft:
I ordered mine with a Tiller, Tiller Clutch and Forespar extension and love it.
George
PS: Gene is absolutely right about his caution. I check my pintles before I lower the rudder into the water before each sail.
CD:
C-22 Sport Kick-Up Uni-Foil Rudder w/Pintles & Tiller
Catalina Direct, publishers of the Catalina 22 and Catalina 25 Owner's Handbooks and the largest supplier of parts and Lewmar winches for Catalina Yachts in the country
www.catalinadirect.com
Rudder Craft:
I ordered mine with a Tiller, Tiller Clutch and Forespar extension and love it.
George
PS: Gene is absolutely right about his caution. I check my pintles before I lower the rudder into the water before each sail.
Thanks, everyone. Yes, I did have the original kick-up rudder, but it wouldn't stay down, then the tiller broke, etc. I considered the Sport Kick-up Unifoil Rudder but I was told that, due to tariff uncertainty, it was unclear when these might be available again, but I haven't checked with Rudder Craft directly yet. As I sail in the ocean and my boat has a wing keel, and I moor in a harbor (near Buzzards Bay, Mass.), I don't really need the kick-up feature, though, and I figured that fewer moving parts might mean a more durable and reliable piece of equipment. But I'm not sure about this -- and any advice would be appreciated. In the meantime, I'll contact Rudder Craft.
Just talked to the sales guy at Rudder Craft and he said that tariffs aren't affecting delivery of the Sport Kickup Unifoil Rudder after all. So I guess it's an option.
I apologize, I was wrong about the rudder from CD not being fiberglass! Last time I looked, I only saw Ruddercraft products on CD. I need to get out more often. 
Just to chime in on the rudder craft. Mine actually warped in the sun and now has a curve to it that I have yet to be able to remedy. For the cost of the rudder it is a bummer that it can't withstand the CA heat. I have read somewhere that apparently you are supposed to leave it in the down position in the water to keep it from warping but without anti fouling paint on it seems like a disaster. just my 2 cents.
Thanks, morbidfollower. Yes, I did read somewhere that you're supposed to keep it in the water to keep it from warping. I wonder if fouling is a problem for anyone else here, who keeps their rudder down in salt water (as I intend to do).
Wow. First I've heard of this issue. While in the slip, I bring the rudder out of the water but, I do cover both the tiller and rudder with their respective Sunbrella covers.
George
@Matt Parfitt
I too have a wing keel and a fixed blade rudder. I would not mess with a kick-up unless you trailer a lot and like the added mast crutch. The fixed blade is only about 6 inches deeper than your wing so many can launch with the fixed blade attached (thats what I do).
If you plan to race youll want to get the class legal rudder. It straightens the leading edge a bit reducing weather helm without braking class rules. Ruddercraft is the only non Catalina approved vendor for the rudder
If your looking for less weather helm and a good fixed blade but never plan to race I would be tempted to try the high performance rudder. Moving the leading edge inside the transom solves the weather helm issue but also won't have the boat heading up as easily as the rudder will take longer to stall. However it is an option.
On a mooring if leaving the boat long term I would suggest removing the fixed blade all together and putting it in the cabin. this way you don't have to worry about the varnish on the tiller, lashing it amidships or growth. Many racers do this every day in a regatta. The rudders are fairly light and the tiller attaches wiht only a single bolt. I use a wing nut to make it easier to remove as I trailer all the time and I keep a spare incase I drop something. I dont know about the Ruddercraft rudders but the stock ones do float incase you dropped them. I have seen a few brake over the years at a race and they're not too bad to retrieve from the water.
Anyway just a few of my thoughts from a fellow wing keel guy. Hope you enjoy whatever choice you make and have some fun on the water this summer and fall.
I too have a wing keel and a fixed blade rudder. I would not mess with a kick-up unless you trailer a lot and like the added mast crutch. The fixed blade is only about 6 inches deeper than your wing so many can launch with the fixed blade attached (thats what I do).
If you plan to race youll want to get the class legal rudder. It straightens the leading edge a bit reducing weather helm without braking class rules. Ruddercraft is the only non Catalina approved vendor for the rudder
If your looking for less weather helm and a good fixed blade but never plan to race I would be tempted to try the high performance rudder. Moving the leading edge inside the transom solves the weather helm issue but also won't have the boat heading up as easily as the rudder will take longer to stall. However it is an option.
On a mooring if leaving the boat long term I would suggest removing the fixed blade all together and putting it in the cabin. this way you don't have to worry about the varnish on the tiller, lashing it amidships or growth. Many racers do this every day in a regatta. The rudders are fairly light and the tiller attaches wiht only a single bolt. I use a wing nut to make it easier to remove as I trailer all the time and I keep a spare incase I drop something. I dont know about the Ruddercraft rudders but the stock ones do float incase you dropped them. I have seen a few brake over the years at a race and they're not too bad to retrieve from the water.
Anyway just a few of my thoughts from a fellow wing keel guy. Hope you enjoy whatever choice you make and have some fun on the water this summer and fall.