rudder pivot hole

after sailing my 300 a few times and realising each time i had some weather helm unless i loosened the bolt right off, swung the rudder blade down hard until it when 'thunk' on the bottom stop and then tightening the bolt right up. if i pull it down using the downhaul rope i get HUGE amounts of weather helm.

could this be the problem? if so how do i sort it out?

Edited by tmoore

I have the same sort of issue except I have a butterfly twisty thingy as well as a seporate pin that goes through the stock and blade to hold it in place. Mine has started to eat into the blade a bit and as a result the blade is rising (intense Cherub blasting...). At the moment there is thin pin in the high load a part of the blade so I'm putting a new fatter pin much nearer the piviot=less load=no blade munching=happy sailing.

Microballoons are small spheres, of varying materials. Added to an epoxy (or other resin, for that matter, but you're best off with a marine grade epoxy) they make for a good filler that's much easier to sand. However, that's where helpfulness runs out, as at work we buy them in large amounts from chemical suppliers.

Repairs for this have already been suggested. Open out the hole slightly, fill with epoxy (West & Colloidal Silica, or Sp & microballoons), then re-drill a new hole in the right place. Its also a good idea to fit a plastic tube over the bolt, if you can find one, it will help spread the load a bit and slow down future wear. Best thing to do is ease off the wing nut before you pull the rudder down and then before you get any speed up, tighten the wingnut as much as you can. When you pull the board up you'll need to ease the wingnut again.

Hi Tom

The  blade must not be  allowed to  raise at all, this is where the weather helm comes from.

I had similar problem with a old RS200.

After launching and  pulling on the downhaul, I'd sail (depowered) till clear, then stretch over the stern and grab a hold of the  trailing edge of the rudder(underwater).  then, I'd gently push it  forward, to ensure it was hard against the  rudder stock. Tighten both wing-nut and  downhaul... then go sailing.

NOTE -  there used to be  a small piece inside the  stock preventing the front of the blade bashing into the stock. this was removed to enable the blade to go forward as much as possible.  i.e  If  not gentle when not  there; when lowering blade stock will cut a small groove into top of blade.

 

 

 

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