Kick Up Rudder Won't

[Joseph Washburn]

My 1988 Catalina 22 is equipped with a kick up rudder. However, it is difficult to raise and lower. This past week I had pushed it down as far as I could. While we were having a nice sail back we were fighting a considerable amount of weather helm. Finally I stepped onto the boarding ladder and pushed the rudder down all the way. Sailed and handled much better. However, once back to the ramp I could not raise the rudder until I had the boat out and could do it with two hands.I have loosened the lock handle. In fact, I have removed the handle completely. But the rudder is still tight. Does anyone have any ideas? Do the little disks on each side of rudder frame screw off or are they attached? Has anyone else had anything similar? Any advice would be appreciated.Joseph Washburn"Disciple Ship"14408

 

[Greg]

Kick Up Rudder

Could be a corrosion issue. The bolt could be corroded to the discs on either and not releasing. Mine worked much easier after I disassembled it and applied a light amount grease to the bolt. It did take some soaking of the bolt with silicone spray to be able to drive it out by tapping. The discs, if I remember right are just held in place by the bolt and lock handle. If the rudder was locked in place for long periods of time corrosion could be the problem.

 

[Jim]

Kick up rudder

Joe,The best thing to do is to completly disasemble the rudder, clean all the parts and put it back together. I do this every season and mine works great. If its never been apart you WILL have a hard time. Use one of those hand held impact wrenches with a phillips head socket to break loose the screws. and use some anti seize when you put it back together. One of the Catalina sites has a breakdown and pictures im not sure where, it may be on this one. I also have a line attached to my handle and a chain attached to the rudder itself for WHEN the rudder pops off (it will)Happy sailing:Jim/ "Carpe Diem" Cape Cod MA

 

[Charlie on "kestrel"]

Rudder re-work

I had the same problem with my '86 when I got her 3 years ago. I could not get the side plates off of the center casting. Stainless screws into an aluminium frame?. What I did was to drill out the screw heads and pop the side plates off. I then used the old plates as templates and had a local machine shop cut new ones.I then remounted them onto the frame and drilled thru for bolts and nuts. I can now take it apart without any corrosion on the bolts.Good luckCharlie