Rudder & Back Stay 25

[Ric Shultz]

Question: 1After 1000 hours of work I am almost ready to launch. I have a Oday 25 CB. The boat is launched each time from my trailer. With the rudder on, ther is about 6" of ground clearance. Can I launch with the rudder on or do I have to put it on after it is in the water? It looks like a chore to do afloat as it must be turned sideways to fit the pins in.Question 2On my old boat, I split the back stay with a yoke over the rudder to center the mast pull. It helped the boat sail up wind equally both directions. I'm thinking of doing that on the 25, but if it makes no real difference, why bother. Also, a trangle of cable over the rudder may make it more difficult to install the rudder afloat, if thats required from question 1 above. Also, it may complicate my ability to add a bimini latter? So, is it worth splitting the backstay to get a dead center pull on the mast, considering these other factors?Ric

 

[Jim Saunders]

Half Answer and Additional Question

So far as the Bimini, I can't help but think that splitting the back stay would possibly complicate the issue beyond reason unless you are OK with a pretty good size slot in the top.The question of the rudder brought back a question I've been toying with, and I wonder if anyone else has come up with a solution: Is it possible to henge the rudder in such a way that it could be tilted up at need without removing it? If this could be accomplished with a cotter pin holding the rudder in place it might make life better for those of us who sail constantly in fairly shallow watters and "sand the rudder" from time to time. Certainly, swinging the rudder down and inserting a pin would be easier than reinstalling the whole thing at a ramp.