After a long year of many aggravations I finally got my boat in the water and went for a sail. Things went well and it was worth all the work. However! I had one problem that I can not figure out how to correct. My rudder has a wingnut in the middle to bring the rudder up and down and to screw it down into whatever position you want. My problem is that the wingnut does not hold enough pressure on the rudder to keep it down when I am underway. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Rudder ? Oday 17' DaysailerII
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Thanks, I was thinking I could do something like that however I was hoping I would not have to and there would be a simpler solution. But being that I only got one response and this was it I guess I have some work to do. Thanks for the help!
Thanks, I was thinking I could do something like that however I was hoping I would not have to and there would be a simpler solution. But being that I only got one response and this was it I guess I have some work to do. Thanks for the help!
Maybe you could drill a hole for a shear pin? That's what I did with the rudder on my O-Day Mariner.
My rudder tends to pivot up ever so slightly due to water pressure under sail. I don't have a wing-nut, mine has a Nylon-insert locking nut (sometimes called an "aircraft nut?) I can tighten it more than a wing-nut can be tightened. Still ,I have thought of, but haven't actually done it yet..adding a "shear-pin" to hold the rudder down, it would be strong enough to keep the blade down (I figure an 1/16" diam dowel, like a skewer?) but would break if I hit bottom. A wedge could work instead, or a piece of styrofoam in the rudder "slot" that would wedge the blade down? Haven't tried that yet either.......I think the shear-pin wil lbe better!
Ty for the suggestions. Today I attempted a quick fix and I undid the screw and was able to spread apart the upper section of the rudder enough to slide in some a sheet of rubber gasket repair material. That seemed to give enough material for the wingnut to tighten things up and held it in place right up until I realized my keel was stuck and NOT in the down position. Needless to say it was a rough day and this rookie suffered his first flip over.
The so called seatow was horrible and could not right the boat. It was a disaster and they ended up causing more damage to the boat then anything. I will probably be under repair until next season.....Oh yea and the problem rudder.....it was lost as the "proffesional tow service" yanked my boat across the bay.
The so called seatow was horrible and could not right the boat. It was a disaster and they ended up causing more damage to the boat then anything. I will probably be under repair until next season.....Oh yea and the problem rudder.....it was lost as the "proffesional tow service" yanked my boat across the bay.
suffering sailor
yep, was just tallyin up the costs of parts im gonna need....its not as bad as it first seemed. I tried pulling on the keel and putting everything i had onto it, but I did not stand on it, after talking to a experienced sailor friend that is the trick that I thought I did not need to do. The tow company was horrible they brought it up 3 times and smashed it right back down on the other side.....was a 4 hour ordeal if not more and hundreds of dollars between it all.....Was so depressed, but getting over the butt hurt.... Now I gotta take the motor which is brand new back to the store and have them take care of it, i pulled the plug, drained the fuel, and drained the carb, but Being it has less then 2 hours on it I rather have them get it up and running....I finally became one of the losers I always heard all those stories about.....oh well, live and learn i guess! Thanks for the tips!
yep, was just tallyin up the costs of parts im gonna need....its not as bad as it first seemed. I tried pulling on the keel and putting everything i had onto it, but I did not stand on it, after talking to a experienced sailor friend that is the trick that I thought I did not need to do. The tow company was horrible they brought it up 3 times and smashed it right back down on the other side.....was a 4 hour ordeal if not more and hundreds of dollars between it all.....Was so depressed, but getting over the butt hurt.... Now I gotta take the motor which is brand new back to the store and have them take care of it, i pulled the plug, drained the fuel, and drained the carb, but Being it has less then 2 hours on it I rather have them get it up and running....I finally became one of the losers I always heard all those stories about.....oh well, live and learn i guess! Thanks for the tips!
I'm so sorry to hear this.
That same thing happened to me many years ago on the lake near my house. I was sailing a 16' twin centerboard Cape Cod Ship Building Gemini 2 sloop, and she capsized. I lost my outboard. There was absolutely no way I could right that boat by myself. The bow had an air tank but the stern had no flotation. A guy in a power boat towed me to shore.
If something ever happens to my boat where I can't use the sails or the outboard, I'll tow my boat with my kayak before I use Sea Tow.
That same thing happened to me many years ago on the lake near my house. I was sailing a 16' twin centerboard Cape Cod Ship Building Gemini 2 sloop, and she capsized. I lost my outboard. There was absolutely no way I could right that boat by myself. The bow had an air tank but the stern had no flotation. A guy in a power boat towed me to shore.
If something ever happens to my boat where I can't use the sails or the outboard, I'll tow my boat with my kayak before I use Sea Tow.
@ Trinkka, yep I'll do whatever I have to do but never again. If I could find a way to sue this guy I would most certainly do it.
@ All others, thanks for the support! Much needed.
@ All others, thanks for the support! Much needed.
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