Rudder on 170 while moored...

[BlueRunner]

I've had my new (to me) 170 moored in front of my home for about a week. I'll be pulling it out for the winter in a couple of days so this question is really for next year when I moor the boat again. I'm on a smallish lake (10 miles long and about 1 mile wide) and in a little cove that is mostly sheltered from the wind.

The first time I anchored out, I noticed the rudder was doing a little up and down hop (which seemed to me to be putting a bit of a strain on the package). So, I pulled it up and lashed it in a position straight back.

It no longer seems to be doing the "hippty hop", but I'm wondering if this method also puts a strain on the rudder package.

I could take it off and stow it under the front deck, but I would rather not as this method seems to be playing a little Russian Roulette when reinstalling while moored. I can see myself perhaps seeing a pin or even the rudder doing a deep six (actually 20'), but further than I want to dive to recover a vital rudder piece.

Any recommendations on mooring with the rudder attached?

 

[txjim]

If the up/down motion is the rudder in the rudder bracket I would not worry about it. The PO of my 170 did use a spacer to eliminate slack, I never saw the need. I've never had an issue while keeping the rudder raised (the boat is stored on the trailer in the marina and not subjected to the same motion yours is) but am keeping an eye on the chafe where the rudder uphaul fits in the tiller-mounted cam cleat

I'd consider a lanyard on the rudder pin and rudder assembly if there's a possibility of it going in the drink.

Keeping a boat moored outside the house, I'm jealous! How's the wind on your lake?

 

[BlueRunner]

I'd consider a lanyard on the rudder pin and rudder assembly if there's a possibility of it going in the drink.

Keeping a boat moored outside the house, I'm jealous! How's the wind on your lake?

The first time I put the rudder on the boat, the boat was on my buoy. Just didn't have time to install it on the launch as I was pressed on fading daylight, so I had to motor the 4 miles quickly to the buoy and YES, I did have a line on the rudder when I was leaning over the back to attach it.

I learned my lesson about a month before when I took a knock down on a 12' saiiling dinghy that went upside down. I lost the dagger board and the rudder. A $400 lesson.

As to wind on Lake Sammamish, most days very, very light conditions until about 3-4 PM. Then on normal days, maybe 8-10 MPH. Occasionly the wind can get up to 20MPH or greater. My personal llimit is any whitecaps and I'm done unless I have another crew member to either man the sheets or the rudder.

I consider myself to be very lucky to be able to look out the window, check to see what the wind is and be leaving my buoy in 10 minutes or so.

Note: In our little cove, we have 14 power (ski) boats. I'm the only sailer, but I hope a few others switch as it would be great to see a couple of masts swaying in the wind at anchor.

 

[BlueRunner]

Re the up position for the rudder on the 170, I was surprised how effective the rudder is in the "up" position. I ran my boat down to the launch on the 2HP motor only and left the rudder up since I thought I would be steering the boat with the outboard.

However, the rudder is the up position was VERY effective is steering the boat with only the outboard motor running. Also, I was surprised to see how fast the boat goes on the engine only. At full speed, I was clicking off 6 MPH.

Re the rudder in the up position, does anyone have the rudder in this position for downwind running? I was in a race last Sunday and I raised the centerboard on the downwind leg although I have no idea if I actually got a slight boost or not.