Sheer Pins

[Larry]

My rudder always comes up a couple times every time I take the boat out and usually not from touching bottom. There is a hole where a sheer pin could be installed to keep the rudder down. Has anyone had this same problem and used the sheer pins sold by IdaSailor? or is the their a better solution

 

[Night Sailor]

bungee cord

Not on a Mac, but on another rig I sailed once for a friend, I fixed a problem similar to yours by installing a short, strong peice of bungee cord around the back of the rudder that held it down and forward, but allowed it to be raised for beaching, or kicked up upon hitting bottom.Alternative: insert a short peice of rubber tubing through the hole. An old piece of gas line worked on one boat which had a hole for locking down the rudder for deep water voyaging.Some Mac owners are said to drill a hole into the hollow center of the rudder, so it rapidly fills with water and reduces the tendency to float up.

 

[Steve Paul]

Night sailor is on it

Night sailor is on it but you can buy nylon screws at the hardware store that will work just fine and not kill your pocket book. Some of the guys are installing gas struts to do this. Sounds like a good idea to me.Steve P.

 

[John S]

Gas Strut Conversion

I have a 26D that I have two gas strut set ups on, and I really like the solution to the shear pin problem. The problem is that I am forgetful and I keep shearing the shear pins. So I installed a gas strut that holds down the rudder yet gives when I ground the boat. I beach my boat a lot on the lakes I sail on in the Pacific Northwest. I have run out of shear pins and substituted fountain pen barrels, even whittled sticks to hold the rudder down. My gas strut holds the rudder down when I sail, and holds the rudder up for launching by installing the hold points so the gas strut goes overcenter when the rudder pivots around it's center. See my pics at www.photobucket.com/albums/v721/oreana123. Solves the problem once and for all, and really looks neat. For a gas strut see www.surpluscenter.com. Their struts cost about $5 but are not stainless steel. If you are operating in the saltwater environment, get a stainless steel strut, but it will cost more. John S boise