Tiller Rudder Concerns

[Beau Lawrence]

A little help please! Flew the new spinnaker this weekend it was great but the new power revealed two new problems. First, the aluminum tiller has become loose. It appears the bolt that goes through the rudder and tiller has worn the machined hole to about 2 or 3 times its original diameter (In the tiller pipe or tube). It now has alot of play or slack in the tiller. Has anyone had the same problem? How did you fix it? Has anyone repace the tiller with a more sturdy version?Second, (and I think this problem caused the first problem) the darn rudder keeps swinging up as we sail. I have the wing nut cranked as tight as i can get it. As the rudder slowly starts to swing up the amount of force it takes to turn and hold course puts too much strain on the tiller. How can I fix this? I still need to be able to swing it up when i want it up (like when I hit something...eh the bottom). I bet this problem has already been solved by somebody else. By the way..the new spinnaker was a handful...but way cool!Thanks in advance!

 

[Brad Amundson]

I tied a double knot in my rope attached to rudder

Thats interesting with the bolt problem. On my new boat mine was stripped ended up breaking it to remove so I could add a pulley with tie offs on both ends to get the 2 to 1 power when pulling the rudder into its down position. My rudder popped up with just one knot in place. So I doubledup the knot. There does have to be a better system because now mine might not give if I hit the bottom of the lake? Like a sheer pin arrangement? I re-read your question and I have a feeling that your not using the tie off down below.I have one to lift out of water and another one to lower for sailing.

 

[Ray Bowles]

Brad's shear pin idea is right on.

I would drill a 1/2" hole thru the complete rudder assembly at a point that would be near the falcrum point for the rudder raising point yet outboard enough to allow force to be a factor and insert a soft wooden dowel. The water would swell it in place and it still would shear on impact with a solid object. To remove just drive out with a drift.I would check to be sure that a hole drilled thru the rudder would not cause delamination. Ray

 

[Joe R]

spinnaker

We are considering adding the Doyle UPS sail to our 240.What make of spinnaker did you get. did you have to add any hardware to control the sheet?thanks for any comments you may have.Joe

 

[Brad Amundson]

I like the wooden dow idea Ray!

I have a hole in my rudder about 3/4 of an inch in diameter and then another hole transversing it if you will thatswhere the rope comes in at. Where my knot used to sit in the 3/4 cut out will now be a wooden dow instead. Great Idea! I'll try it this weekend.I will also keep plenty of extras on board. Knowing me I'll need them!