I am having problems with keeping the rudder down. It seems that I can not tighten it enough and when sailing it moves up making it dificult to steer Hunter tells me that the rudder should be up each time I am in port so the tightening becomes a problem each time we go out
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What size is yours?
I’ve had similar problem with mine creeping up after changing out the downhaul line. I went from ¼’ to 3/8” as that’s all I had when the ¼” gave away. What size is yours? It could be like mine you need to use ¼”
I’ve had similar problem with mine creeping up after changing out the downhaul line. I went from ¼’ to 3/8” as that’s all I had when the ¼” gave away. What size is yours? It could be like mine you need to use ¼”
Rudder Creeping Up
We have a 95 H26. Had the same problem. I was hesitant about tying the down haul down and then hitting something and damaging the rudder. I changed out both plastic guides on my tiller andput in two new rubber gaskets on the rudder housing and so far it's staying down. I question Hunter telling you to keep the rudder up when docked. It was my understanding that the rudder will split if it gets too hot so they always recommended that you leave it in the water. This might apply to the older boats'rudders. Maybe the new boats have a different rudder. Crazy Dave could answer this question. Paul H S/V Linda Belle 95 H26
We have a 95 H26. Had the same problem. I was hesitant about tying the down haul down and then hitting something and damaging the rudder. I changed out both plastic guides on my tiller andput in two new rubber gaskets on the rudder housing and so far it's staying down. I question Hunter telling you to keep the rudder up when docked. It was my understanding that the rudder will split if it gets too hot so they always recommended that you leave it in the water. This might apply to the older boats'rudders. Maybe the new boats have a different rudder. Crazy Dave could answer this question. Paul H S/V Linda Belle 95 H26
Up while moored...
My 1999 H260 (with wheel) is kept on a mooring in Boston, MA with the rudder pinned in the up position. It has black bottom paint. It is in good condition. IMO, if it splits, it is due to other defects. Hunter recommended rudder up to reduce wear and tear on the helm components. Regarding the rudder down haul, mine has a down haul line which is tied off on the cleat at the top of the rudder post when sailing. The centerboard is going to hit bottom before the rudder. Use charts, depth sounder and eyeballs to avoid thin water! Fair winds, Tom
My 1999 H260 (with wheel) is kept on a mooring in Boston, MA with the rudder pinned in the up position. It has black bottom paint. It is in good condition. IMO, if it splits, it is due to other defects. Hunter recommended rudder up to reduce wear and tear on the helm components. Regarding the rudder down haul, mine has a down haul line which is tied off on the cleat at the top of the rudder post when sailing. The centerboard is going to hit bottom before the rudder. Use charts, depth sounder and eyeballs to avoid thin water! Fair winds, Tom
What year is yours?
My new 260 has a "plastic" pin that will keep the rudder in the down position while still being light weight enough to break in order to protect the rudder if it hits something solid.
My new 260 has a "plastic" pin that will keep the rudder in the down position while still being light weight enough to break in order to protect the rudder if it hits something solid.
Rudder
Tom, what you say makes sense about the rudder components. Will start doing that when we get to the boat. My rudder is painted blue but I guess that should not make a difference. What I was getting at about the rudder hitting would be if your center board was pulled up. Sorry for not clarifiying. Paul H S/V Linda Belle 95 H26
Tom, what you say makes sense about the rudder components. Will start doing that when we get to the boat. My rudder is painted blue but I guess that should not make a difference. What I was getting at about the rudder hitting would be if your center board was pulled up. Sorry for not clarifiying. Paul H S/V Linda Belle 95 H26
Rudder up
We have been leaving our rudder up while stored on a mooring ball. Am I reading your statement correct that maybe we should leav it in the water during the storage. Our boat is 2 years old. Thanks
We have been leaving our rudder up while stored on a mooring ball. Am I reading your statement correct that maybe we should leav it in the water during the storage. Our boat is 2 years old. Thanks
Sheer Pin
I had the same problem with my H240. In fact I nearly lost some passengers when it kicked up on a beat in a decent wind and they did not hang on /move fast enough as the boat rounded up hard. That was enough. I drilled a hole in the rudder in the down position, using the bracket that was designed to secure the rudder up while towing. Hunter is aware of this problem and offers a sheer pin (that will break if you run a ground but will hold under normal sailing pressure) for anyone who wants it. This is a standard feature on new models. I was told to seal the new hole with expoy. Good luck. Given my experience, I encourage everyone to make this saftey improvement ASAP.
I had the same problem with my H240. In fact I nearly lost some passengers when it kicked up on a beat in a decent wind and they did not hang on /move fast enough as the boat rounded up hard. That was enough. I drilled a hole in the rudder in the down position, using the bracket that was designed to secure the rudder up while towing. Hunter is aware of this problem and offers a sheer pin (that will break if you run a ground but will hold under normal sailing pressure) for anyone who wants it. This is a standard feature on new models. I was told to seal the new hole with expoy. Good luck. Given my experience, I encourage everyone to make this saftey improvement ASAP.
Rudder Creep
Several years ago we had the same problem. During the off season while on the trailer the wing-nut was removed so the rudder could be removed. The rudder and gasket were then cleaned. Cured the creep problem. Good luck. N.S.
Several years ago we had the same problem. During the off season while on the trailer the wing-nut was removed so the rudder could be removed. The rudder and gasket were then cleaned. Cured the creep problem. Good luck. N.S.
Join the club
Yep I am afraid this is a problem that we have been trying to fix on this forum for the past few years. I tie my off on the cleat and as Tom said your keel will hit bottom first.
Yep I am afraid this is a problem that we have been trying to fix on this forum for the past few years. I tie my off on the cleat and as Tom said your keel will hit bottom first.
cleat
For years I have just cleated my off. It then does not move. Now I have made a pulley system mentioned in this section of the forum that I use to down haul my rudder. corky
For years I have just cleated my off. It then does not move. Now I have made a pulley system mentioned in this section of the forum that I use to down haul my rudder. corky
Rough evening
Wife and I were about to go out on our first overnight trip with our 1 year old daughter. I got out of the slip and was headed out of the marina when the rudder pin broke (I didn't realize it at the time). Not knowing that I had lost control, I couldn't figure out why the boat was getting blown in the last red marker into the marina. One I got pushed off of the marker, I was then getting blown towards the bridge pilings when I realized the rudder had floated up. I decided that I was better off out in the River (St. John's) than trying to get back into my slip without steerage (thought was safer for other boats
). So, I loosened the lock on the engine and started steering by pushing the engine from side to side. Once I got safely out into the channel, I began to try to pull the rudder back down, only to find that the downhaul line knot apparently pulled through the hole in the rudder. About this time, a thrunderstorm decides to pop-up, so the winds and wavelets are a little rough for me to try to stand on the rudder (with the engine going) to try to get it back down where I could slide the metal trailering pin back in to regain steerage. So, I decided to try to motor up to the outside of the doc and tie up. Luckily, one of the sales people from Whitney's either heard my radio call to them or happened to see me out there struggling and came out to help me tie up. Waited about 30 mintues for the storm to do its thing and then her and her husband came back out to walk the boat around the dock where it would be more protected. I went out today, undid the pulleys that were inside the rudder post (they don't provide much mechanical advantage anyway), took off the crappy thin line that WAS attached to the rudder and took the bigger line all the way to the rudder and was able to cleat the rudder down. Don't know what I am going to do to resolve this issue permanently, this is the second time that the rudder has popped up when I was motoring near the docks. I think I will also look at linking the engine to the wheel as well... and but a gift card for Linda and her husband to a nice restaraunt . Darren
Wife and I were about to go out on our first overnight trip with our 1 year old daughter. I got out of the slip and was headed out of the marina when the rudder pin broke (I didn't realize it at the time). Not knowing that I had lost control, I couldn't figure out why the boat was getting blown in the last red marker into the marina. One I got pushed off of the marker, I was then getting blown towards the bridge pilings when I realized the rudder had floated up. I decided that I was better off out in the River (St. John's) than trying to get back into my slip without steerage (thought was safer for other boats
). So, I loosened the lock on the engine and started steering by pushing the engine from side to side. Once I got safely out into the channel, I began to try to pull the rudder back down, only to find that the downhaul line knot apparently pulled through the hole in the rudder. About this time, a thrunderstorm decides to pop-up, so the winds and wavelets are a little rough for me to try to stand on the rudder (with the engine going) to try to get it back down where I could slide the metal trailering pin back in to regain steerage. So, I decided to try to motor up to the outside of the doc and tie up. Luckily, one of the sales people from Whitney's either heard my radio call to them or happened to see me out there struggling and came out to help me tie up. Waited about 30 mintues for the storm to do its thing and then her and her husband came back out to walk the boat around the dock where it would be more protected. I went out today, undid the pulleys that were inside the rudder post (they don't provide much mechanical advantage anyway), took off the crappy thin line that WAS attached to the rudder and took the bigger line all the way to the rudder and was able to cleat the rudder down. Don't know what I am going to do to resolve this issue permanently, this is the second time that the rudder has popped up when I was motoring near the docks. I think I will also look at linking the engine to the wheel as well... and but a gift card for Linda and her husband to a nice restaraunt . Darren- Status