Retracting Rudder

[Simplicity]

Hey all, I'm the new guy on the block. We have just bought a nice little C26 as our first sailboat and am very excited to finish fitting and learn to sail on her as the first big step to our full time cruising goal. While we have experience in power boats, after a few trips with friends last season and a lot of research we have been converted and seen the light. I have read everything I can get my hands on but the information and experience of the sailors on here will prove invaluable , I'm sure.

Anyway, Simplicity is in very good overall condition but has a few projects that will need immediate attention. The first being the rudder. The owner had just purchased an IdaSailor rudder and had a stainless rudder housing made. He did not have it designed to retract but instead had a lock pin in mind that was weak and would break if it was grounded and let the rudder swing. I am not interested in keeping this set up but want to redo the housing to work with the original design since the new rudder does have the slots for the lines. Plus I want to be able to retract it for shallow drafting. I havn't seen to much info on how this set up works. If anyone can lend some insight I would appreciate it.

Thanks
Carey

MORE PHOTOS
http://sailingmoonshine.com/Simplicity.html

[EmergencyExit]

Welcome aboard ! That's a nice C26.

Not sure if you found these two rudder resources but will include them here.

A look at the original rudder post assembly on EE's site

And the Retracting Rudder Diagrams on Windward's site.

[ronc98]

Welcome to the group. You picked a great starter boat. The Chryslers are built like tanks. There are a few places that need work but most boats are like that.

Are you planning on long term cruising on the C-26 or is this just to get you started.

[NYCSAILOR]

welcome!

and good luck withteh 26 and keep us posted... she looks gorgeous in teh photos..

[Simplicity]

Thanks all for the welcome!

Thanks for the links EE, I have spent much time on windwards sight and yours but had not ran across those diagrams. I am still a little confused in the lines. Do they just come out of the top of the rudder post and cleat in the cockpit?

ronc98 - We will be trailer cruising the C26 for the next few years. Since we are inland Oregon we have just a couple of lakes to sail but will be heading north to Puget Sound area for mooring during the season and also spending some time in SF Bay. Then we will be moving on to a larger cruiser. My wife wants a little more elbow room for long term.

[Windward]

Yes, the lines run up through the hollow rudder shaft and cleat in the cockpit, usually on a clam cleat at the butt end of the tiller.

However... let's say, hypothetically, you had the poor taste to run your boat into a bit less than 4' of water. What do you do? Well, crank up the keel, of course, so you can get free. Unfortunately, that leaves your rudder pretty solidly aground. The clam cleat, which does a great job of keeping the rudder in the down position, just requires a slight tug to release tension so you can pivot the rudder up. Don't know about you, but (again hypothetically) I can't pull as hard as the boat can sit, and (again hypothetically) would have to disassemble the entire tiller to get the bloody thing loose.

Roughly translated: consider keeping those pins you hate, which are on my list of desirable things to add, or use a small clutch instead of the clam cleat so that you can for sure for sure release it if you park on the rudder.

Not that it would ever happen, you understand

[Simplicity]

Thanks! That was just the information I was after. We (hypothetically never run aground...right.. I'm gonna have to give this a little more thought.
Very nice job refitting Windward, she's stunning.