Thinking of buying a Hunter

[Rob McLaughlin]

pin v. bungee (with diagram)

Brigg's suggestion of having a bunch of spare pins brings to mind several situations I have run into where all hell was breaking loose on deck in nasty weather and waves and current, etc. When we were able to get free of the obstruction (usually a sandbar), the rudder returned to its standard position without my having to drop everything else to pull it down. It also keeps it as far down as the bottom will allow, which means you will have the best ability to steer, probably when you need it most. The rudder wearing away a bit in the sand, for me, is the least of my worries. I think there are a number of products you can use to build it back up if needed.I have attached a diagram of what I was trying to describe. Its from a friend's 2002 H240. A picture wouldn't do it justice, as most of the interesting parts are inside the rudder post.

 

[Steve Kamp]

rudder downhaul/spring/bungee/pin

I have one of the newer 260's that came equipped with the plastic pin, but to date have not used it. While sailing in the Beaufort S.C. area I used the friction pad/clamp and wound up shoaling on a mud flat. The results as expected were that the rudder bobbed up and when I cleared the flat, I did the downhaul/friction pad dance hanging from the aft pulpit rail with one hand, pushing down on the rudder with one foot and securing the pad with the free hand. On Lake Norman, N.C., I secured the rudder in the down position with the downhaul line only, tieing it off to the cleat on top of the tiller post, reasoning that I was far less likely to shoal in the lake. As I was in the pack of other boats all jockying for the start of the pursuit race, up bobs the rudder. The downhaul line had come loose from the block inside the rudder post. Once again I did my dance at the rub rail, got the rudder down and clamped tight with the friction clamp, and crossed the starting line 6 minutes after my posted start time. For a first attempt in a pursuit start, the Carolina Girl and I finished 30 out of 46 boats. I will use the plastic break-away pin the next time out. Where can we obtain more of them?By the way John, don't be discouraged by what you read in this forum. There is more favorable info on the Hunter than negative. Most "problems" are minor in nature and owner fixable if there is the least little bit of mechanic in you. Go ahead and buy the 260. The forum is what swayed my purchasing decision in favor of the 260 as compared to a catalina or macgregor

 

[Mark]

This may be the answer!!!!

But I might need help with the designe??(This may get a little complicated)Instead of a rope that comes out of the rudder post why not replace the rope with a solid stainless shaft. At the bottom end of the shaft have a smallish circle welded on that the rope attached to the rudder ties onto. The top end of the stainless shaft, with the rudder in the full up position is just above the top of the rudder post. The top of this shaft has a "T" welded across. So to pull the rudder down you pull up on this "T" peice. Now to hold the rudder in the down postion you have a stainless mechanical clap on the stainless shaft. Hope everyone is with me so far. You adjust this clamp on the stainless shaft to maintain enough pressure to hold the rudder down but not to much tension to prevent the shaft from sliding down through the clamp should you ground the rudder. Obviously when the rudder is in the down postion this shaft will extend out of the rudder post and stick up in the air.This may just be the permanent answer and one that solves all the problems.If the forum sees fit I will draw a sketch and try to post it on in the photo forum. Perhaps I will do it anyway.

 

[Jeff Peltier]

Interesting, but

perhaps, the whole think should be reversed to have the shaft push the rudder down and pull the rudder up with 2 ears tipped at a small angle to pin through a hole in the back of the rudder about 6-8" down. The means of holding it down could be either friction or tension, although my preference would be tension, as friction is hard to control, especially in saltwater conditions, and dosen't allow for returning to the prefered position.Jeff Peltier