How to get that blankty blank rudder down

[George H260]

The H260 rudder readily pops to the surface but is awkward to get down. See the pic. I'm getting to the age where standing on the stern lip with the left foot, pushing the rudder down with the right and sticking the shear pin in the hole at the same time without falling into the water is getting a little dicey. Seems to me I've read of another H260 owner who added weight to his rudder to make it easier to get it down. My recollection is that he drilled a hole in the bottom, added weight, then plugged the hole with epoxy. My plan is to tie some fishing weights to the bottom of the rudder and take it to the lake to see how many it will take to achieve neutral buoyancy.Is this a problem for others? Any other ideas to avoid the "big splash"?

 

[Calvin]

Oh, the rudder

I love my 260, but we are now on our 3rd rudder in 3 years. The design is poor. The rudder on the 26 was much better designed, but I am told that it was also much more expensive to build. My next rudder will be the IdaSail and I dont believe that it floats. The problem will then be how to get it up.

 

[Ashley]

rebuild the downhaul

George, I had the same problem as you. It was a real pain to get the rudder down, you had to stand on the swim platform and kick the rudder down while jerking up on the downhaul.I rebuilt my downhaul using Harken double micro blocks and 1/4 inch line. I can now lower the rudder from the floating position with one hand and never have to leave the cockpit. It takes a little bit of a tug to get it started from horizontal but it goes down easily and I can get most of the stretch out of the line so the rudder doesn't move much after it is tied down.

 

[Denis]

Autorelease

George,Once you get the pulling down part figured out, you may want to look at installing an Autorelease clam cleat for the dowhaul, that way you don't have to fool with the pin. I have had one for a year now and it is great.

 

[Reudi Ross]

260 Rudder

I had the same problem with the stock rudder. I went to the Idasailor rudder and it is much better. The rudder is neutral bouyancy so I can pull it down with the downhaul line from the cockpit. I installed a releasing clamcleat so I don't have to fool with the shear pin. The Idasailer rudder is also much stronger than the stock rudder, made out of solid plastic, wont crack, get waterlogged, etc. Put one on and you will be very happy with the result.

 

[LKYusnret]

Please don't buy an IdaSail Rudder

I have one and will sell it to you, cheap. The first one I had failed. IdaSail sent me the second one the next day. I feel that it failed due to an inherent design fault. Their rudder flexes side to side, port to stb, till it weakens and breaks, much like bending soft metal back and forth till it develops a crack and fails. In my case the rudder had been in use one other time for about 14 hours and the second time of use after about 4 hours it failed. Within the group that I sail with, about 25 boats, there has been reported 4 total failures of the IdaSail rudders both Hunter and MacGregor. I put back my orginal rudder and keep the IdaSail rudder as a VERY expensive spair. John S/V Baums Rush

 

[George H260]

Rudder Downhaul

Ashley, Thanks for the tip on the rudder downhaul, I was not thinking about that. I assume they replace the single block inside the rudder tube. I have the camcleat but have not installed it yet but will as part of the project.

 

[Ashley]

downhaul

Yes, they replace the original. I bought the autorelease cleat (haven't installed it yet). It occured to me that if the rudder kicks up while sailing, I would have to hang off the back of the boat and kick the rudder back down and loose control of the boat in the process. Now I can pull it down with one hand and never even leave the cockpit. I used 2 HARKEN 22MM MICRO BLK, DBL BKT Defender part #604861. After running the line through the blocks, attach a short line to the bottom block. This piece will run out the bottom of the rudder post and attach to the rudder. The whole rig slides down the rudder post from the top. There is a bolt that runs through the bottom half of the rudder post so the blocks will only go so far down. Make sure you have enough distance between the blocks to pull the rudder all the way down. I attached the top block to the bail on the tiller head with a shackle. A side benefit of having so much purchase in the downhaul is the ability to pull most of the stretch out of the line. In the stock setup, even with the rudder tied down tight it would still move back and forth at least 1.5 inches. I think this has definetly reduced some of the weather helm by keeping the rudder from raking back while sailing.

 

[Gerard]

Idasailor rudder

I want to weigh in on the Idasailor rudder. I think it's great. I just finished my second season with it. I did drill for a shear pin because I found it to be the most reliable method when Lake Ontario kicks up and drilling the Idasailor was easy because it's all one piece. I've used it in some pretty rough conditions and no problems. You do need to tighten up that wing nut, though. My boat perfoms better with this rudder. I could never get my downhaul to work properly. Ashley-any pics of your rebuild?.Just my personal experience, not to discount anyone else's view.

 

[LKYusnret]

A view of an Idasailor rudder

My first Idasailor rudder,

 

[Ross]

What length rudder?

John;What length IdaSailor rudder did you have that failed on your H260? The 48" or 58" model?Thanks

 

[Calvin266]

Cause for broken rudder pictured

This is in response to the broken IdaSail rudder. I believe this too is a result of the poor design of the 260 rudder assembly. My first rudder was broken when the 1/4" ( or larger) stainless steel bolt holding the rudder broke ( with a sound like a shotgun) while sailing. This could only have occured due to the constant back and forth movement of the rudder in its assembly. It is impossible to secure the rudder tightly using the bolt tightner. I now add a c-clamp to the top of the rudder assembly to keep the rudder from moving around inside the brackets. Not very pretty but it works. If you think having to step on the rudder to get it down is unnecessary, try having to put the ladder down and go into the water to tighten the c-clamp.

 

[Rick Macdonald]

Rudder downhaul autorelease

I bought one but won't get to install it until next season (June '06).How much tension, if any, do you still put on the big wing nut (H26/H23.5)? I'm assuming very little, or at least little enough that the rudder can be pulled down again without ever having to hang over the stern to adjust the wing nut. Is that right?...RickM...

 

[Reudi Ross]

IdaSailer rudder

For what it's worth, I've had mine on for 4 seasons. Did 4 weeks straight in the Sea of Cortez and was in some nasty following seas. I had to work the rudder just about from lock to lock to keep from broaching. My rudder is holding up just fine, no signs of fatigue. 48" model

 

[LKYusnret]

The long model

58 inches sounds about right. The crazy thing is that I've not had any problems with the orginial rudder. The IdaSailor rudder was just a new shinny new toy, that I just had to have and now will grows dust under the aft cushion. But I told myself that I would try to get the word out for sailors to at least think twice before buying this product. I beleave it needs more R&D and testing. John

 

[Ross]

48" vs. 58" Rudder

I've had a 48" IdaSailor rudder for 2 seasons on my H260. I've sailed the boat hard, no problems. Previously, I had 3 OEM rudders crack/split.If the bolt through the rudder and the housing isn't snug, the rudder can wiggle port/stbd. A good tug on the flange that tightens the bolt solves this on my boat. For those that still can't make the housing/rudder fit tight, consider adding plastic disc(s) between the rudder and housing.After I received my rudder, I talked to Joel at IdaSailor about why his rudder was 10" shorter than the OEM rudder. As I recall, he said that the 48" IdaSailor rudder was more effective in shape/design than the original and the extra length wasn't really required.

 

[Bob Fliegel]

Idasailor Rudder The Way To Go

I have used the Idasailor rudder for 2 seasons and found it to be great. It really puts the stock H260 rudder to shame. With regards to the rudder failing, I believe it was sold with a lifetime warranty - so who cares if it breaks - its still a thousand times better then the stock rudder.In my situation, the very shallow Great South Bay, I have removed the block inside the rudder post and use the single line to haul the Ida-Rudder up and down (with ease).I have also attached a heavy rubber bungee cord to the rudder end of the line, haul the rudder down with the bungee and secure the bungee to the stern rail. When I hit the shallows the rudder kicks up and gets pulled back down by the bungee. This also works very well.It also helps when my rudder fouls with marine grasses and weeds I can just haul up the rudder, let the grasses slide off, and the rudder hauls itself back down!

 

[Greg]

No time to be standing on the rudder...

I rebuilt my rudder downhaul. While trying to adjust it in the water this dude showed up to see what was going on... After rebuilding and adjusting, all is well. I no longer have to stand on the rudder to get it down.

 

[Hal]

260 Rudder

Rudder 2005 260. Put ss cable clamp on line snug to rudder, Use boat hook between rudder and clamp to push rudder down by bobbing it to build momentum. Very easy to do from cockpit. Then tie off. Then put in pin that has been slightly shaved down. Then tighten bolt.

 

[Corky]

rudder down

Sorry I do not have a photo as my boat is in storage. First I have left my mast crutch on my boat and use it as a poor man's arch. I rigged up a 3:1 block and tackle with cam to my rudder down haul and my wife can even lower the rudder. The cam keeps the rudder down while sailing and has been known to release if I hit something. I use a 2:1 to pull the rudder up and cleat it when I want the rudder to be in the up position. I only pin my rudder in the up position when trailering. I have the stock rudder. If you really need a pic I could get you one some time.Corky