Re: Another Kick-up rudder question

theodore f. boyer (freelanc@execpc.com)
Tue, 25 May 1999 15:30:48 -0500


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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Dear TBD,
I have heard this problem mentioned many times about the flip up rudder and
how it isn't easy to get it the rudder down again. I have suggested to IM to
increase the cost of the boat by adding J24 type all female pintles and
gudgeons and their 1/2" pins($201.00 retail). Because people under sail,
normally pull directly upward on the line to lower the rudder, resulting in
pulling the lower male pintle, popping it out of the gudgeon, bending the
upper gudgeon by water pressure and pitch of the boat.
In order to avoid this from happening again, Contain the forces by wrapping
the rudder down line, over the tiller while pulling upward on the tiller
itself (tiller becomes a lever). Do this procedure about (3) times, you'll
see your rudder going down to position.
If you wish to correct this dsign problem forever, order the parts from
Boat/U.S.1999 catalog page 270. Same items offered by US Marine. you'll have
to shim the rudder and please add large backup plates - not just washers
inside the transom
Ted-Milwaukee WWPotter19 "Sea Breeze"
Curt Westlake wrote:

> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> West Wight Potter Website at URL
> http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> I had our new WWP 19 again last weekend, and we continue to ramp up the
> learning curve. I had a great sail with my wife and two girls Saturday
> on Lake Hartwell (SC) and again on Sunday with a friend of mine who
> sailed competitively in his youth. Boy, I sure learned a lot from him
> that day. Both days had fabulous winds for Hartwell at this time of
> year--10 to 15 mph with gusts to 20. I have been meaning to chronicle
> my adventures in all their humorous detail, but work beckons. I am
> keeping an inventory of things that I have dropped overboard at my
> slip. So far the count stands at one cotter ring, two clevis pins, on
> mast raising system gin pole (interesting story), one Ramones CD.
>
> I do have a question, though. it seems my kick-up rudder is pretty good
> at going up, but getting it down in the fully extended down position
> again is a royal pain. I t seems that the only way I can get the rudder
> extended is to pull it out of the gudgeons and beat it on something
> until it straightens out. Am I doing something wrong, or is there
> something wrong with my rudder? Anybody else have this problem? (And
> yes, I did release the kick-up line (is that what it is called?)).
>
> As an aside, I would like to say that I absolutely love this boat.
> There have been a few glitches that have their source in the factory,
> but overall, she is just as solid, stable and easy to sail as IM, and
> everyone here as stated. So far, I have learned to get the boat to
> sail. Now, I have the rest of my life to learn how to sail her well.
>
> Curt Westlake
> WWP-19 #1096
> Name: TBD...waiting for inspiration to strike.

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Dear TBD,
I have heard this problem mentioned many times about the flip up rudder and how it isn't easy to get it the rudder down again. I have suggested to IM to increase the cost of the boat by adding J24 type all female pintles and gudgeons and their 1/2" pins($201.00 retail). Because people under sail, normally pull directly upward on the line to lower the rudder, resulting in pulling the lower male pintle, popping it out of the gudgeon, bending the upper gudgeon by water pressure and pitch of the boat.
In order to avoid this from happening again, Contain the forces by wrapping the rudder down line, over the tiller while pulling upward on the tiller itself (tiller becomes a lever). Do this procedure about (3) times, you'll see your rudder going down to position.
If you wish to correct this dsign problem forever, order the parts from Boat/U.S.1999 catalog page 270. Same items offered by US Marine. you'll have to shim the rudder and please add large backup plates - not just washers inside the transom
Ted-Milwaukee WWPotter19 "Sea Breeze"
Curt Westlake wrote:

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
      West Wight Potter Website at URL
        http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I had our new WWP 19 again last weekend, and we continue to ramp up the
learning curve.  I had a great sail with my wife and two girls Saturday
on Lake Hartwell (SC) and again on Sunday with a friend of mine who
sailed competitively in his youth.  Boy, I sure learned a lot from him
that day.  Both days had fabulous winds for Hartwell at this time of
year--10 to 15 mph with gusts to 20.  I have been meaning to chronicle
my adventures in all their humorous detail, but work beckons.  I am
keeping an inventory of things that I have dropped overboard at my
slip.  So far the count stands at one cotter ring, two clevis pins, on
mast raising system gin pole (interesting story), one Ramones CD.

I do have a question, though. it seems my kick-up rudder is pretty good
at going up, but getting it down in the fully extended down position
again is a royal pain.  I t seems that the only way I can get the rudder
extended is to pull it out of the gudgeons and beat it on something
until it straightens out.  Am I  doing something wrong, or is there
something wrong with my rudder?  Anybody else have this problem?  (And
yes, I did release the kick-up line (is that what it is called?)).

As an aside, I would like to say that I absolutely love this boat.
There have been a few glitches that have their source in the factory,
but overall, she is just as solid, stable and easy to sail as IM, and
everyone here as stated.  So far, I have learned to get the boat to
sail.  Now, I have the rest of my life to learn how to sail her well.

Curt Westlake
WWP-19 #1096
Name: TBD...waiting for inspiration to strike.

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