Automatic rudder retraction

[Jack Sparrow]

A while ago there was a thread on grounding rudders and I stated that situation awareness was the way I prevent rudder damage. Over the past 2 weeks carrying out repairs to my rudders my mind started to wander as it usually does. I think I have solved the problem, so before I let the cat out of the bag here's a challenge to see if someone can come up with something better.

It must be
Relative cheap to make about $20-$30 aside
Automatic kick up but can be reset by the down halyard
No bungees
No shear pins
Low maintainance
Salt waterproof

Jack Sparrow

ps Moderator can I stay an Engineer I don't think any high rank is a promotion

[tangentair]

First this is an unfair challange, the Aussie dollar has a higher exchange than our northern neighbor's - we should get 200 - 300 to play with.
But, I would think you could design an levered attachment so as to get the correct tension that would be held by a down rigger's adjustable tension release that would hold a loop of the rudder line.


You will have to double click and expand the image to read the text properly

[kmclemore]

ps Moderator can I stay an Engineer I don't think any high rank is a promotion

!	kmclemore:
	Sorry, it's like being a government worker... promotion is automatic.

[kmclemore]

Well, seems to me if you could find a way to 'over center' a down-haul on the rudder - one that has a small amount of stretch to it - then as the rudder gets knocked backwards it would have enough force to stretch the down-haul and move it past the center-point, therefore pulling the rudder back up... you'd need a second down-haul that pulled in a more forward direction to reset it, of course.

[Trouts Dream]

B U N G E E C O R D S

[bubba]

I had a 1971 Hobie monocat 12 ft with a swing keel that the keel was held down by a heavy bungee chord and it would pop up if I hit something. The bungee was held in place by a jam cleat when the chord had streach from the swing keel hitting bottom it would pop out of the jam cleat and the swing keel would fold up, also the rudder did the same thing. This worked great for sailing up on to the beach at my camp. It probably work on our rudders ESPECIALLY IF THE DAGGER BOARD WAS ALREADY UP. I would guess the bungee would need to be 8 mm like the existing rudder rope.

[bubba]

Show us a photo please of you modfication.

[Scott]

I seem to remember a diagram for a breakaway cleat mod from years ago.

The cleat pivoted on a base that would release when enough tension was applied. Similar to the forestay tensioner only set to release

[Kelly Hanson East]

(I think this was Duane's mod)

Cleat the rudder line down onto, rather than around the stern cleat, so that if it hits something, the line pulls out of the cleat

Simple and elegant

[Pacamac-uk]

I seem to remember a diagram for a breakaway cleat mod from years ago.

The cleat pivoted on a base that would release when enough tension was applied. Similar to the forestay tensioner only set to release

I've been looking at the following for another application, but should do a rudder. Might even see if I can use it on my rudder.

Clamcleat CL257 - Auto Release

http://www.clamcleat.com/cleats/cleat_d ... ?theid2=78

There's even a 'video' showing kick-up rudder application!

[Scott]

Thats the ticket!!

[pokerrick1]

C'mon Jack - - - you're keeping all of us in suspense and you're down there laughing your AS* off.

Rick

[Bill Earnhardt]

Is there a U.S. distributer for the CL 257 ?

[bubba]

Distributor

Sea Dog Line
BOX 479
Everett
Washington
98206
U.S.A. Phone: 425 259 0194
Fax: 425 339 1345
Email: oemsales@sea-dog.com
Website: www.sea-dog.com
This info was on the web site, I know my local marine store carries this brand , I have some of there cleats

[Boblee]

Thats great Pacmac and they are even available out here thanks.
Now all I need is something to make the dagger board kick up, thats right it's called a swing keel, why did they change that?