Hi all, Was wondering if anyone had any comments/preferences on a rudder "lock down" (or whatever it's technically caleed). My '72 Catalina rudder locks in the down position with a pin
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
K
Keith K
Friction lock
I have a '76 C22, and the rudder has a lever on the starboard side that turns clockwise to friction lock the rudder up or down, and counter-clockwise to release. Seems to work ok, though you have to lean a ways over the transom to work it. Keith
I have a '76 C22, and the rudder has a lever on the starboard side that turns clockwise to friction lock the rudder up or down, and counter-clockwise to release. Seems to work ok, though you have to lean a ways over the transom to work it. Keith
A
Aldo
My Rudder Lock Thoughts
Lisa: This is an important topic. I have seen experienced sailors that didn't address the rudder lock down issue, and I feel this is critical to safe sailing. If the rudder just moves back an inch or two, it can create a tremendous amount of force on the tiller, which could cause it to break, and probably spoil your day. Also, in my opinion, it really slows a boat down, if the rudder is not locked properly in the down (and forward) position. Anyhow, my rudder does have a friction lock on it, but it really doesn't work the way that it was designed to. I use a nylon pin, about 1/8 inch in diameter, that shears if my rudder contacts the bottom. It also has a line, about 1/4 inch in diameter, that is used to pull the rudder up, after the friction lock is released and I remove the pin. I added a pulley onto the rudder, so this gives me a mechanical advantage of 2 when I pull the little line. (I plan on increasing the mechanical advantage even more by adding more little pulleys, but that's a winter project). Will the pin on you rudder shear if you hit something? Or isn't that a problem on your lake? I do have a string or wire that I use to keep me from losing the pin, when it's removed. You could possibly have one of your pins modified by adding a screw eye to it, or just buy a fastpin, which would already have a ring on it. These have a little ball near the end to keep them from falling out. I am still concerned that it wouldn't shear if you did hit an obstruction. This could pull the rudder right off of the boat. Years ago, the man who suggested that I take a look at a Catalin 22 before I buy another boat, told me that he used bungie cord to pull his rudder down. The way that this worked was that it pulled the leading edge of the rudder upward. Then if he hit something, the rudder would rotate back, and would remain in the up position. I thought that this was interesting, but I really like the 1/8 inch diameter nylon pins that I use. I once tried copper wire about 12 or 14 gage, but this was too tough to shear, when I hit the bottom, and the rudder popped off. I did have the pivot bolt (the one that the rudder pivots on when it kicks up)break one time, but I replaced it with a high strengh stainless steel bolt, and made a new handle, and it's fine now. I hope my thoughts help. Did you ever figure out where the water in your cabin floor was coming from? Aldo
Lisa: This is an important topic. I have seen experienced sailors that didn't address the rudder lock down issue, and I feel this is critical to safe sailing. If the rudder just moves back an inch or two, it can create a tremendous amount of force on the tiller, which could cause it to break, and probably spoil your day. Also, in my opinion, it really slows a boat down, if the rudder is not locked properly in the down (and forward) position. Anyhow, my rudder does have a friction lock on it, but it really doesn't work the way that it was designed to. I use a nylon pin, about 1/8 inch in diameter, that shears if my rudder contacts the bottom. It also has a line, about 1/4 inch in diameter, that is used to pull the rudder up, after the friction lock is released and I remove the pin. I added a pulley onto the rudder, so this gives me a mechanical advantage of 2 when I pull the little line. (I plan on increasing the mechanical advantage even more by adding more little pulleys, but that's a winter project). Will the pin on you rudder shear if you hit something? Or isn't that a problem on your lake? I do have a string or wire that I use to keep me from losing the pin, when it's removed. You could possibly have one of your pins modified by adding a screw eye to it, or just buy a fastpin, which would already have a ring on it. These have a little ball near the end to keep them from falling out. I am still concerned that it wouldn't shear if you did hit an obstruction. This could pull the rudder right off of the boat. Years ago, the man who suggested that I take a look at a Catalin 22 before I buy another boat, told me that he used bungie cord to pull his rudder down. The way that this worked was that it pulled the leading edge of the rudder upward. Then if he hit something, the rudder would rotate back, and would remain in the up position. I thought that this was interesting, but I really like the 1/8 inch diameter nylon pins that I use. I once tried copper wire about 12 or 14 gage, but this was too tough to shear, when I hit the bottom, and the rudder popped off. I did have the pivot bolt (the one that the rudder pivots on when it kicks up)break one time, but I replaced it with a high strengh stainless steel bolt, and made a new handle, and it's fine now. I hope my thoughts help. Did you ever figure out where the water in your cabin floor was coming from? Aldo
L
Lisa Woodburn
Aldo, great rudder setup...
Sounds like you've got a great rudder setup. I had to laugh when you asked if hitting the bottom wasn't a problem in the lake here. The water level drops tremendously by the end of the summer and all sorts of trees, islands
Sounds like you've got a great rudder setup. I had to laugh when you asked if hitting the bottom wasn't a problem in the lake here. The water level drops tremendously by the end of the summer and all sorts of trees, islands
D
Don
Rudder lockdown
Liz, My former boat (S2/6.7) had a swing rudder (transom mounted) with a lockdown brass pin. First time hitting bottom bent brass pin so badly had to cut it to remove (also put ding in gelcoat of reuuder!). Finally put a 2 x 4 block between top of rudder and rest of rudder housing, block had metal plate on one end to maintain position, a eyebolt on that end and a bungee cord from eyebolt around rudder assembly back to eyebolt. Crude but very effective. When necessary to swing rudder up just remove bungee and wood block, takes seconds and your're home free. More importantly you can always get block out to get rudder up. Good luck.
Liz, My former boat (S2/6.7) had a swing rudder (transom mounted) with a lockdown brass pin. First time hitting bottom bent brass pin so badly had to cut it to remove (also put ding in gelcoat of reuuder!). Finally put a 2 x 4 block between top of rudder and rest of rudder housing, block had metal plate on one end to maintain position, a eyebolt on that end and a bungee cord from eyebolt around rudder assembly back to eyebolt. Crude but very effective. When necessary to swing rudder up just remove bungee and wood block, takes seconds and your're home free. More importantly you can always get block out to get rudder up. Good luck.
M
Mike bracket
Kick up Rudder lock down
The standard friction lock handle on the side plates of the Catalina 22 Kick up rudder do not work well. I drilled a 1/4" hole on the bottom edge of the aluminum plates, through the rudder and the other side plate. Then remove the rudder and make the hole in the rudder a bit oversize and fill it with epoxy. when it is dry, redrill it to the 1/4" and get some 1/4" wooden dowel stock. Cut it into pieces about 1.5" long and put them in your tool box. It works like a shear pin and is cheap and easy to make. If you have access to a good set of drill bits, go one size over 1/4" for the hole as the wooden dowels are hard to insert if everything is the same size. I have used this method for years and it is very reliable and simple. Good luck. Mike
The standard friction lock handle on the side plates of the Catalina 22 Kick up rudder do not work well. I drilled a 1/4" hole on the bottom edge of the aluminum plates, through the rudder and the other side plate. Then remove the rudder and make the hole in the rudder a bit oversize and fill it with epoxy. when it is dry, redrill it to the 1/4" and get some 1/4" wooden dowel stock. Cut it into pieces about 1.5" long and put them in your tool box. It works like a shear pin and is cheap and easy to make. If you have access to a good set of drill bits, go one size over 1/4" for the hole as the wooden dowels are hard to insert if everything is the same size. I have used this method for years and it is very reliable and simple. Good luck. Mike
- Status
- Not open for further replies.