Re: P19 Swiveling Rudder
Gordon (hlg@pacbell.net)
Mon, 2 Nov 1998 15:14:46 -0800
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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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>Web Gang:
> My previous P-15 was Onslow #1249 built in 1983. The lower portion
>of the
>rudder was plastic and dropped down into the water from its own weight. It
>was wonderful. Never a problem. As directed by a Web contribution, I drilled
>a hole in the rudder at an appropriate spot, ran a shock cord from that hole
>up to the gudgeon and the rudder was inclined to stay down until it hit
>something and then it popped right up.
> My current P-15 #2098 was built in 1994 and has a wooden rudder
>that requires
>all kinds of attention in getting it down and then to stay down. Next spring
>I'm going to get me a big peace of plastic and cut me out a new lower rudder
>that will not become water logged and allow me the benefits of my old 1983
>P-15.
>Richard S. Karam
>P-15 #2098
>Oklahoma City
Richard
You might consider just adding a push-pull rod to the center trailing edge
of the rudder. After launching or grounding, it is easy to push the rudder
down, the rod acts as a flag to alert you if the rudder comes up, and it is
easy to pull up the rudder when beaching or preparing to recover onto the
trailer. No bungees, ropes, weights, or blocks required. It's worked well
for me.
Harry Gordon
P14 #234, Manatee
Mountain View, CA