H260 Rudder

[Frank Sears]

Last summer the back side of my rudder split open, so the rope that holds the rudder down slipped out and the rudder floated up. Yea, no control and it was in high winds. At the time I tried big time to tighten down on the compression nut to hold the rudder down to no avail.I have the new rudder mounted and I sanded the poly spacers on the sides of the rudder thinking it would grab the rudder and hold it down better. Not so. The boats in my yard so it's easy to play with it. I tighten down that nut with a 12" 3/4" wrench as tight as I could get it. I can still easy move the rudder. That hold down bolt is useless.So... the only thing holding down the rudder is the rope. I don't like that!!!!There is a hole in the rudder housing so you can pin the rudder in the up position. I'm thinking of drilling another hole to hold the rudder in the down postion. I'm planning on using a 1/8" aluminum pin to hold the rudder down.Has anyone else done anything like this? Is it a bad idea?Thanks,

 

[Ray Bowles]

Frank, I'd hold off using any type of shearpin

to keep the rudder down. I would try using a rubber or neopreme washer first, in place of the poly. What did Hunter Marine advise?A shearpin type of retainment system is subject to failure, as before, without failure of the rudder proper.I think I remember dialog last fall about failures of the 260 rudder system. I would dog the factory for satisfaction rather than changing to another flawed system.Good luck.RayS/V Speedy95 H26

 

[Jeff Peltier]

spring tension

I run in enough shallow water that a sheer pin wouldn't be acceptable. I have been using spring tension on my downhaul line for 4 years now with good success. I take the line over the top stanchion to a spring hooked to an eye on the rudderpost plate. 1/2 a wrap with the spring tension gives good resistance. If you want more, use 1 1/2 wraps. (pictures are on the photo forum)Jeff Peltier

 

[Scott Blahnik]

Pin works fine

My dealer put it in before I bought it. Couldn't imagine not having it.

 

[dan vereker]

260 rudder, pin it down

hey frank,i sail out of san diego harbor, and i found that drilling a hole for the down position works fine. i use the same pin that holds the rudder in the up position. however, it seems to me that the rudder on the 260 is the weakest link(good bye). the folks at hunter need to re think the whole thing.  fair winds and good sailing.... dan