pico rudder
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11459
Printed Date: 14 Jul 25 at 9:35am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: pico rudder
Posted By: web
Subject: pico rudder
Date Posted: 06 May 14 at 7:47pm
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My son has just bought a Laser Pico from ebay - when we
arrived to pick it up we found the rudder had a huge crack at the top which they
did not tell us about, we will be taking this up with them. At the time I agreed
to a reduction of £70 as I thought I could get a decent secondhand blade quite
easily, but no. It seems they are hard to find. Is there any way this damage can
be safely repaired ?
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Replies:
Posted By: GarethT
Date Posted: 06 May 14 at 9:04pm
| If you can post up a picture I'm sure someone will be able to help. |
Posted By: Mister Nick
Date Posted: 06 May 14 at 10:19pm
| Put a picture up and then people will be able to judge. If the crack isn't too serious then you should be able to open it up with an angle grinder, fill it and then wetsand smooth. |
Posted By: RichTea
Date Posted: 07 May 14 at 8:27am
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It also depends on what style of Pico Rudder you have. Over the years the rudder stock has changed design, i am not sure if the blade has too. Depending on how big the crack is depends on the ease of fixing it or whether it is best to use it as it is. ------------- RS200 |
Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 07 May 14 at 8:39am
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A second hand blade is something that's not likely to be common- though they're tough, as with most boats rudder blades are one of the more easily breakable items (which is good!) ------------- -_ Al |
Posted By: web
Date Posted: 07 May 14 at 7:58pm
| please can someone tell me how to post a photo..............many thanks |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 07 May 14 at 8:00pm
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Go to Post reply, not quick reply, and click on the tree image. Then browse for the pic on your computer and upload it.
------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: NickA
Date Posted: 07 May 14 at 8:17pm
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My pico rudder did the same thing. The cheapskates at performance sailcraft made the original rudder blades of foam cast onto MILD STEEL re-inforcing bars. A micro-crack appears, water gets in, the bars rust and expand and the rudder cracks open. I found no way to repair mine. You can rout it out and fill with fibre glass filler but it will usually crack again. Later spec pico rudders are some sort of injection moulded plastic; I bought the full price replacement and it's been fine. The LATEST pico rudders are extruded aluminium , so should last forever .... but may not fit your existing stock. Sadly, sailing ain't a cheap sport. ------------- Javelin 558 Contender 2574 |
Posted By: web
Date Posted: 07 May 14 at 8:55pm
| Thanks for this, it does seem like a common fault.....I have found a company in the US which makes mahogany 'pico' rudder blades for a fraction of the cost of a new one here, I have sent a photo and they seem to think it will work........at the moment I am trying to get the blade off the stock, the bolt is turning but not coming out - I have tapped it with a hammer at the same time as turning the nut, any hints ??? Thanks |
Posted By: laser193713
Date Posted: 08 May 14 at 12:04pm
Hit it harder... The blade is knackered anyway, what's the worst that could happen!?
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Posted By: web
Date Posted: 08 May 14 at 12:32pm
 this is the crack. I have spoken to others and they think it is possible to repair this? that is why im taking caution when removing the bolt
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Posted By: web
Date Posted: 08 May 14 at 12:40pm
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[QUOTE=web]this is the crack. I have spoken to others and they think it is possible to repair this? that is why im taking caution when removing the bolt. Also the bracket doesnt swivel as its meant to. due to the crack the plastic has raised up, preventing the rudder from being able to raise, so even if the crack was filled it still wont work properly.
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Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 08 May 14 at 2:12pm
| If there's definitely no thread in the stock you could try pressing it out. Best done with a vice but a G cramp will probably work. Get a socket or something and put it over the bolt head and push the bolt from the other side. Start it off with a nut in place but backed off a turn from tight to start the first millimetre. |
Posted By: moomin
Date Posted: 08 May 14 at 3:45pm
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Sorry to add to your misery but you're also missing the nylon lump that sits on top of the thread that sticks out the top of the stock. This should engage with the grooves in the underside of the tiller and lock the rudder down. It will work with just the thread but the rudder will be slightly off vertical and liable to pop up occasionally. You can see on the photos where the thread has worn away after rubbing on the retaining block on the tiller. Another pieces of c**p laser design they denied was a problem but strangely decided to change in later versions to an aluminium lump and have now given up on completely and gone for a standard piece of string in a jammer to hold the rudder down. Post affected by far too many hours swearing at sailing school Pico rudders and the constant repairs required! ------------- Moomin |
Posted By: NickA
Date Posted: 09 May 14 at 5:00pm
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That is just what our pico rudder did. Good old "performance" sailcraft (actually they never said "high" performance, could always have meant "c**p" performance) If it won't go up and down and the bolt is stuck due to all that rusting metal inside the blade, it's probably dead. Even if you fix it, you will be left with "rudder keeps popping up" problem of Mk 1 Picos - ie every time you take your weight off the tiller it unlocks the rudder blade, which rises and takes lots of force to steer - hence the cracks in the first place quite probably. Frankly I'd grit my teeth and stump up the £265 for a new blade, stock and tiller (and yes I know that's 25% or more of the cost of a 2nd hand pico  )Alternatively ... if race legal isn't a concern (and why should it be) you could probably cut down an old wooden rudder blade from a different boat. A few hours of sawing, angle-griding, sanding and painting ...... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dinghy-Rudder-/181399799938?pt=UK_Sporting_Goods_Sailing&hash=item2a3c454882 ------------- Javelin 558 Contender 2574 |