Re: Another Kick-up rudder question

theodore f. boyer (freelanc@execpc.com)
Tue, 25 May 1999 15:40:03 -0500


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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Dear Curt,

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"

The Costas wrote:

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> West Wight Potter Website at URL
> http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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> Curt wrote:
>
> >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?)).
>
> Curt
>
> If your rudder (lower half) pivots freely when out of the water then you
> might be suffering from a problem that some of us have with our big Potters,
> "floppy downhaul line." What happens is the downhaul line floats off to one
> side of the folded rudder causing you to lose what little leverage is built
> into the system. One suggestion is to add a metal eye (that is large enough
> for the line to slip through, but small enough so it can fit between the
> cheek plates) to the leading edge (near the top) of the lower section of the
> rudder. In theory this will keep the line where it will do the most good.
>
> I haven't done this yet and rely on luck... and a long paddle to get my
> rudder back down.
>
> Larry