There was a discussion a while back on rudder/skeg repair (just loaded to the archives). The main thing I got out of it was the suggestion of using a marine (sailing) rigger for possible repairs. What sort of maintenance, if any can/should be performed on them? I hose the outside down pretty good after each use but not the inside. Other than eyeballing the cable occassionally, I don't know what else to do. I don't use the rudder often and usually don't check to see if it's working until I need/want it. A few times it would not lower when required and I don't think it's ever raised on request. I may need to perform some adjustments on the lines and yes, they're (usually) uncleeted when I try to raise/lower the rudder :-). Clyde Sisler http://csisler.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Clyde Sisler wrote: > What sort of maintenance, if any can/should be performed on them? I hose the outside down pretty > good after each use but not the inside. Other than eyeballing the cable occassionally, I don't > know what else to do. I don't use the rudder often and usually don't check to see if it's working > until I need/want it. A few times it would not lower when required and I don't think it's ever > raised on request. Take out the bolt on which the rudder pivots and remove it. Make sure that the disk to which the lift/lower line attaches is clean. It's easy for fine sand to get in there and roughen up the surface. Between that and the grit itself, you can get a fair amount of friction. I've used very fine sandpaper on the disks (they're plastic on my rudder - not sure if this is true of all) and smoothed them. I've also checked the aluminum surfaces for scratches. Also check that the rudder is still straight. I got my kayak second hand and it had been repeatedly bent and straightened (it was a rental). The result was an S shaped bend at the top that interfered with the action and prevented smooth deployment. I took it into the workshop and hammered it flat. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Michael Daly wrote: > Clyde Sisler wrote: > >> What sort of maintenance, if any can/should be performed on them? I hose the outside down >> pretty good after each use but not the inside. Other than eyeballing the cable occassionally, I >> don't know what else to do. I don't use the rudder often and usually don't check to see if it's >> working until I need/want it. A few times it would not lower when required and I don't think >> it's ever raised on request. > > > Take out the bolt on which the rudder pivots and remove it. Oops! On re-reading this, perhaps I should clarify. Take out the bolt on which the rudder _blade_ pivots. Not the pintle* on which the whole rudder assembly pivots. The potential problem I'm discussing is the friction and wear between the blade parts and the rest of the assembly. Sorry for any confusion!! Mike *I looked up the spelling of this (unsuccessfully) and just discovered that Anas Acuta is the Latin genus and species of the Pintail (duck). Kayak naming trivia. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:32:58 PDT