Hunter 23 rudder position while reloading boat on trailer

J

jamesstrobel

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Jul 15, 2009
28
Hunter 23 Erie, PA
I have a 1990 Hunter 23 (wing keel). Before loading the boat onto the trailer to pull up the ramp and out of the water for the season, I have always removed the rudder before pulling the boat onto the trailer. My concern was that it would drag on the cement boat ramp and be damaged as I pulled the trailer out of the water with my truck.

Am I wasting my time removing it? Can it be left on the rudder pins during this retrieval?It really is a pain to take it off while in the water.

Your help and suggestions would really be appreciated!
Thanks,
Jim
 
Don Guillette

Don Guillette

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May 17, 2004
2,109
Other Catalina 30 Tucson, AZ
How about having someone watch the rudder as you pull it out of the water? If they see that it's going to drag they'll tell you to stop and you can remove the rudder. I shouldn't say this because I don't know anything about a Hunter 23 but I'll bet it won't drag.
 
Johnb

Johnb

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Jan 22, 2008
1,446
Hunter 37-cutter Richmond CA
If you do hit the rudder on the ground it is a huge disaster. Why not remove it one more time for retrieval and then put it back on to see how much clearance you have when the boat is on the trailer.

FWIW I had enough clearance to retrieve my Clipper Marine 23 with rudder, motor and mast all in place and then removed them in the parking lot where it was much easier. I never went out onto the road without removing them.
 
B

Brian M H23

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Oct 3, 2006
1,014
Hunter 23 Philadelphia
jamesstrobel said:
Am I wasting my time removing it? Can it be left on the rudder pins during this retrieval?It really is a pain to take it off while in the water
Click to expand
Jim,

I always released the downhaul and gave the tiller a few shakes. Rudder pops up to Horizontal because it floats. My rudder head was snug enough that it wouldn't ever really go down past 45 degrees on gravity alone. Did Hunter eliminate the hinged rudder???
Screenshot_20241011-204909.png
 
C

Crazy Dave Condon

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Jun 8, 2004
10,294
-na -NA Anywhere USA
@Brian M H23

Thanks for the picture as I was going to ask for one.
You cannot have it fully down when loading up onto the trailer. Although the blade does float, you still need to steer with it. I suggest for safety tying up the blade so it doesn’t fall down and hit the ramp due to possible leaking if the seam is cracked
 
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