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Like everyone else down here in the southeast U.S. I am beginning to kick around and start getting my boat, a MKII, ready for spring. I noticed on my rudder post a small circular piece of plastic with a screw holding it down had worked its way loose and expoxed a wood core. The wood core looked a little worn, and of course I began to worry, will that piece of wood give and my rudder fall off? Of course logic indicates that my rudder isn't held on by a piece of wood, but one really nevers knows until assured by some knowledgeable person or takes the rudder post apart for inspection. Could some knowledgeable person reassure me by telling me that the wood is just a plug, covering up a big nut on a shaft, and it would take a lot to have my rudder fall off? I appreciate any information someone might have regarding this. Other than that small concern everything is great with my boat. I replaced the points and distributor cap on my old reliable Atomic 4 with the electronic unit from Moyers, and look forward to great days of motoring to some secluded cove, kicking the ladder down and swimming and drinking on those hot summer days with no wind. I also procured two mains, one a footless, for those nice spring days with good wind and pleasant temperatures, slicing through those powerboat wakes, slightly heeled over, and laughing as fuel prices go through the roof, and I'm riding free on the wind (I have a little bowrider, so I like powerboats too) Anyway, here's to great spring sailing and the anticipation of good fun on the water. Cheers.
I bought a MKII last spring and, from it, would guess that your wooden plug and plastic cover are just cosmetic devices.
For everyone else, I'd ask: is there any good reason not to add a 10-12" extension to the rudder post in the cockpit so as to make more foot room and an easier connection to a tiller pilot?
Bill
The plastic cap and bit of wood are purely cosmetic. They were pulled out of my rudder post when I adopted Kat's Paw's solution for a sloppy rudder, and had a machinist weld a piece of tubing in place of the elongated hole that had developed over the years.
Kat's Paw and Towser are both acquiring new Autohelm/Raymarine tiller pilots this spring to replace fried or semi-fried predecessors (Kat's Paw's owner claims her old one is fried, but we all know she just wants a new one that matches her shoes). Photos may happen in Black Arts if there's any interest.
David Weatherston
Towser, Toronto
C&C 27 Mk IV
David Weatherston
Towser, Toronto
C&C 27 Mk IV
Offline
This may be an expensive solution to the tller pilot but if you are planning to extend the rudder tube you may want to consider it. At one time I was planning on taking a year off and cruise in my 27, maybe get as far as the Bahamas. On Wind Horse the rudder stock "housing" does not extend from the bottom of the hull to the floor of the cockpit. This may be standard on all MK IIs, but I know mine was ordered with modifications to allow a wheel to be added by the dealer so it may not be standard. Bottom line, I was considering pulling the rudder, having a keyway cut into the stock for a bolt on arm, and adding a ram type autopilot below deck. That would put it out of the way. It is a costly idea to be sure, but cheaper than going back to school. At this point I am glad I still have the boat. I may go sailing Friday!
Mike M
SV Wind Horse
#375
Galveston, Tx
Mike M
SV Wind Horse
#375
Galveston, Tx
Offline
A below-decks tiller pilot would be nice, but it's bound to be rather expensive. Because they're working with a shorter lever arm, the below-deck units have to be more powerful and tend to be quite expensive, plus they need a comparably strong structure to support them. Fitting an autopilot needn't be a major undertaking. When this subject last came up, one fellow talked about how he'd positioned his tiller correctly for an autopilot simply by wedging the tiller up a bit, a low-cost, virtually no-hassle solution. If that doesn't appeal, there are all manner of accessory brackets and fittings to bridge any gaps.
As I said before, we'll put some photos of autopilot installations up soon. If anyone has any photos of creative solutions they'd like to pass on, use the address in The Fleet.
On consideration, I have to say I think that extending the rudder post is an expensive solution in search of a problem that can be solved in other, less involved ways. Not only do you have to extend the post, you have to figure out some way of positioning the tiller horizontally, as the original setup relies the tiller fitting resting on the sole casting for positioning. Moreover, I don't like tiller-heads that are raised off the cockpit sole -- they tend to remove too much flesh from shins.
David Weatherston
Towser, Toronto
C&C 27 Mk IV
Last edited by (2008-04-02 21:55:49)
David Weatherston
Towser, Toronto
C&C 27 Mk IV
Offline
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