I justpurchased a Hunter 260, 2002. I read about a great deal of rudder problems with that model. Would replacing the present rudder with one from Ida Sailor solve the woes? Can putting a wooden dowel as a hold down pin be wise? Thank you, Earl Keim
Hunter 260 Rudder VS. Ida Sailor Rudder
- Thread starter Esk II
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I have the Ida sail rudder
and like it alot. I've put it through its paces and worked it hard with no problems. I think it performs a little better than stock. It won't crack and absorb water because it is solid plastic, not foam cored. The stock rudder is famous for this problem. Also it is neutral bouyancy making it easy to raise and lower. I have a 1998 H260 and use a releaseable clam cleat to hold the rudder down. Some 260s use a plastic shear pin to hold the rudder down. I don't know if that is factory or not. I sail the Sea of Cortez almost every spring and carry a homemade plywood spare just in case.
and like it alot. I've put it through its paces and worked it hard with no problems. I think it performs a little better than stock. It won't crack and absorb water because it is solid plastic, not foam cored. The stock rudder is famous for this problem. Also it is neutral bouyancy making it easy to raise and lower. I have a 1998 H260 and use a releaseable clam cleat to hold the rudder down. Some 260s use a plastic shear pin to hold the rudder down. I don't know if that is factory or not. I sail the Sea of Cortez almost every spring and carry a homemade plywood spare just in case.
H260 Rudder
There is quite a bit of info on the H260 rudder at this link: http://kobernus.com/hunter260/rudder/rudder.html I think a wooden dowel is not brittle enough. For $6.00 you can get the shear pins from IdaSailor. In a pinch I've used a ballpoint pen with the core removed. If you sail in thin water you'll prevent damage to your rudder by having a reliable kick-up set-up. The 4:1 mod and a CL257 Camcleat eliminates the need for a shear pin and makes it easy to get the rudder down without doing the one-footed flamingo dance. More questions contact me by e-mail
There is quite a bit of info on the H260 rudder at this link: http://kobernus.com/hunter260/rudder/rudder.html I think a wooden dowel is not brittle enough. For $6.00 you can get the shear pins from IdaSailor. In a pinch I've used a ballpoint pen with the core removed. If you sail in thin water you'll prevent damage to your rudder by having a reliable kick-up set-up. The 4:1 mod and a CL257 Camcleat eliminates the need for a shear pin and makes it easy to get the rudder down without doing the one-footed flamingo dance. More questions contact me by e-mail
Thank you for the input
Thank you all for the response. I am new to the forum and am becoming familiar with using archives and posting. I did read the topic on the archives and learned volumes. I think I may purchase the Ida Rudder and avoid any impending bad situations when I get launched. Your responses engendered two questions. Is installing the IDA rudder as simple as th ads state? What is a mini rudder? Thank you I am new to Hunter and this forum. Your help and kindness are appreciated. I read many good reports about the Hunter 260 and hope we enjoy the boat as much as many of the reviews. Sail Mag gave the boat a good review along with many owners. Fair wind, Earl Keim
Thank you all for the response. I am new to the forum and am becoming familiar with using archives and posting. I did read the topic on the archives and learned volumes. I think I may purchase the Ida Rudder and avoid any impending bad situations when I get launched. Your responses engendered two questions. Is installing the IDA rudder as simple as th ads state? What is a mini rudder? Thank you I am new to Hunter and this forum. Your help and kindness are appreciated. I read many good reports about the Hunter 260 and hope we enjoy the boat as much as many of the reviews. Sail Mag gave the boat a good review along with many owners. Fair wind, Earl Keim
H260
The H260 is not unique in having rudder problems. Kick-up rudders take a lot of abuse. Although failure is a very rare event on the H260, both the Foss Foam and the IdaSailor rudders have been known to break. Some owners have constructed an emergency "mini" rudder from plywood that can be stowed inside the cabin or in the Port Lazerette. It only needs to be long enough to steer the boat in an emergency. I have a spare Foss Foam rudder, but it takes up a lot of room and I'm going to try this and will post the result on my website. If anyone else has done this I'm sure the rest of us H260 owners would like to see it.
The H260 is not unique in having rudder problems. Kick-up rudders take a lot of abuse. Although failure is a very rare event on the H260, both the Foss Foam and the IdaSailor rudders have been known to break. Some owners have constructed an emergency "mini" rudder from plywood that can be stowed inside the cabin or in the Port Lazerette. It only needs to be long enough to steer the boat in an emergency. I have a spare Foss Foam rudder, but it takes up a lot of room and I'm going to try this and will post the result on my website. If anyone else has done this I'm sure the rest of us H260 owners would like to see it.
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