I have problems finding the correct tension for the shockcord. My rudder tends to fold up at higher speeds. I shall have to buy some thicker bungee cord.
However the shockcord system is an advantage if you do hit an underwater obstacle. However I suppose the daggerboard would hit first anyway.
A rope downhaul with cleat is definitely more difficult to rig and likely to lead to damage if you do hit something, but would make sure the rudder stays down. Has anyone invented a combined system (adjustable shockcord) yet ?
I believe it is permissible (by class rules) to add weight to neutralize the displacement of the wooden rudder.
Cheers,
Gernot
Yes I have a combined system :D altho I don't race so not sure what effect it'd have on the rules.
I think the standard Mirror shockcord method is a short piece of elastic (link below) just screwed into the front of the rudder plate then fed over the top of the plate through the inside of the case to the back where the other end is screwed onto the back of the rudder casing.
Personally I find this is a terrible method because when you pull the rudder up it puts loads of stress on this short piece of elastic and the screws holding in in place. I've seen a few of them break. If they don't break you seem to get the problem Gernot mentioned where the elastic weakens and doesn't hold it down properly.
I've basically extended the downhall shockcord over the top of the rudder case into a cleat on the tiller (similar to the uphaul). As it's elastic it should be able to withstand hitting any underwater obstacles, and when I want to haul the rudder right up eg beaching/recovering/storing/etc I release the downhall altogether so it's not under any stress.
I'm far from an expert lol so would be interested in anyone else's experiences, but this seems to have worked better for me.
I have always used a rope, not a shockcord, for my rudder down haul and have encountered no problems at all. The rope goes to a jam cleat on the tiller.
thanks people, with the info above and some info I got from trident re their rope downhaul kit i can now see that the rudder blade is mounted too high, even for the shockcord system, there just isn't the clearance for the rope / shockcord to get through when the blade is fully down. it's a full timber tiller and rudder so unsure if i'll go thru the hassle to move the blade down at this time, i'll see how it goes for a few sails and maybe do something over our short winter here in Aust.
You lucky folks! I assume you mean Oz (southern hemisphere) and not Austria (northern hemisphere) ;-{).
The sailing clubs had planned to have "slip day" this weekend. Now postponed for another week due to the cold and (in places) remaining ice on the lake.
@ Matt : can you send a detail photo of the shockcord combination arrangement?
Gernot
Yeah am here in Brisbane, Australia, winters are pretty tame here, maybe 6 weeks when the nights go to single digits and the days to high teens / early 20's.
Sorry it's been a while, finally had chance to get some pics as requested. Difficult things to photo because they're so long and thin it's difficult to get it all in one picture... all while holding the camera in one hand and balancing the rudder in the other!
Probably easier and more informative on the boat but I haven't got the time to get it out of storage atm, I'll try to remember to get some more next time I'm out.
That is a very neat rudder arrangement.
Maybe I'll try something similar. I notice you have the old shock cord running through the jam cleat. Does this cleat effectively hold the rubber cord?
Spring has arrived ... time to get the dinghy out of the boat house!
Thanks :) Yes it seems to hold fine. Just make sure the cord is thick enough for the cleat to bite. Not used it that much mind you, my previous version was a quick bodge involving one of those luggage bungees and a hook! Didn't have a proper cleat at the time and needed it in a hurry. It was surprisingly effective but this one's tidier, and no longer have to worry about the cord going AWOL or tangling round things when not in use!
The original shock cord is actually the blue bit at the bottom, I'm not sure where the old white one at the top came from, found it in my "random bits of rope bag" lol.
Yes the weather's come good here recently too, hoping to get out there soon.
62816inBerlin
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 12:22
Permalink
Pros and cons
I have problems finding the correct tension for the shockcord. My rudder tends to fold up at higher speeds. I shall have to buy some thicker bungee cord.
However the shockcord system is an advantage if you do hit an underwater obstacle. However I suppose the daggerboard would hit first anyway.
A rope downhaul with cleat is definitely more difficult to rig and likely to lead to damage if you do hit something, but would make sure the rudder stays down. Has anyone invented a combined system (adjustable shockcord) yet ?
I believe it is permissible (by class rules) to add weight to neutralize the displacement of the wooden rudder.
Cheers,
Gernot
beermatt
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 14:16
Permalink
Short shockcord is standard, not sure that's a good thing tho
Yes I have a combined system :D altho I don't race so not sure what effect it'd have on the rules.
I think the standard Mirror shockcord method is a short piece of elastic (link below) just screwed into the front of the rudder plate then fed over the top of the plate through the inside of the case to the back where the other end is screwed onto the back of the rudder casing.
http://www.tridentuk.com/sailing/product-Mirror_Rudder_Downhaul_Elastic-...
Personally I find this is a terrible method because when you pull the rudder up it puts loads of stress on this short piece of elastic and the screws holding in in place. I've seen a few of them break. If they don't break you seem to get the problem Gernot mentioned where the elastic weakens and doesn't hold it down properly.
I've basically extended the downhall shockcord over the top of the rudder case into a cleat on the tiller (similar to the uphaul). As it's elastic it should be able to withstand hitting any underwater obstacles, and when I want to haul the rudder right up eg beaching/recovering/storing/etc I release the downhall altogether so it's not under any stress.
I'm far from an expert lol so would be interested in anyone else's experiences, but this seems to have worked better for me.
mirrorpete
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 15:03
Permalink
Rudder down haul
I have always used a rope, not a shockcord, for my rudder down haul and have encountered no problems at all. The rope goes to a jam cleat on the tiller.
Pete
symo_007
Fri, 04/05/2013 - 11:58
Permalink
mystery solved
thanks people, with the info above and some info I got from trident re their rope downhaul kit i can now see that the rudder blade is mounted too high, even for the shockcord system, there just isn't the clearance for the rope / shockcord to get through when the blade is fully down. it's a full timber tiller and rudder so unsure if i'll go thru the hassle to move the blade down at this time, i'll see how it goes for a few sails and maybe do something over our short winter here in Aust.
PuffinInTegel
Fri, 04/05/2013 - 13:57
Permalink
Short winter ?!
You lucky folks! I assume you mean Oz (southern hemisphere) and not Austria (northern hemisphere) ;-{).
The sailing clubs had planned to have "slip day" this weekend. Now postponed for another week due to the cold and (in places) remaining ice on the lake.
@ Matt : can you send a detail photo of the shockcord combination arrangement?
Gernot
symo_007
Sun, 04/07/2013 - 12:36
Permalink
Short winter
Yeah am here in Brisbane, Australia, winters are pretty tame here, maybe 6 weeks when the nights go to single digits and the days to high teens / early 20's.
beermatt
Thu, 04/18/2013 - 14:22
Permalink
Extended downhaul shockcord into cleat
Hi again
Sorry it's been a while, finally had chance to get some pics as requested. Difficult things to photo because they're so long and thin it's difficult to get it all in one picture... all while holding the camera in one hand and balancing the rudder in the other!
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=204622CFE1162356!2666&authkey=!AMe...
(Link is to my Skydrive account (Microsoft), don't worry it's not spam lol. It shouldn't ask you for a password but if it does just sign out then try the link again.)
Probably easier and more informative on the boat but I haven't got the time to get it out of storage atm, I'll try to remember to get some more next time I'm out.
Cheers
Matt
62816inBerlin
Fri, 04/19/2013 - 09:59
Permalink
Looks good!
That is a very neat rudder arrangement.
Maybe I'll try something similar. I notice you have the old shock cord running through the jam cleat. Does this cleat effectively hold the rubber cord?
Spring has arrived ... time to get the dinghy out of the boat house!
Cheers,
Gernot H.
beermatt
Mon, 04/22/2013 - 15:26
Permalink
Incidental
Thanks :) Yes it seems to hold fine. Just make sure the cord is thick enough for the cleat to bite. Not used it that much mind you, my previous version was a quick bodge involving one of those luggage bungees and a hook! Didn't have a proper cleat at the time and needed it in a hurry. It was surprisingly effective but this one's tidier, and no longer have to worry about the cord going AWOL or tangling round things when not in use!
The original shock cord is actually the blue bit at the bottom, I'm not sure where the old white one at the top came from, found it in my "random bits of rope bag" lol.
Yes the weather's come good here recently too, hoping to get out there soon.
symo_007
Thu, 04/25/2013 - 12:48
Permalink
Thanks Matt, great picts.
Thanks Matt, great picts.
My rudder blade is definitely way too high in the casing so there is no gap for the shockcord to go thru.
< queue the A-team building something music > :)