Rudder alignment?

I am looking for information on how best to ensure my rudders are aligned properly. While they are up they appear to be not straight/aligned with the hulls. It appears that they both point outwards.

There are screw adjustments on the tiller crossbar (at each end) but would like to know how to adjust (to what measurement).

I am looking for a resource on this adjustment if possible.

thx -dave

Measure the rudder alignment with the rudders down.

On a Hobie 16, the trailing edges should be ~1/8" further apart than the centers of the leading edges.

You need a buddy, a steel tape and about five minutes to do this.

Hey mbounds, that means I misunderstood this all along. !!!!

With the leading edges toeing IN, how does that relate to the bend in the tiller tube? That is, looking at the installed rudder assembly from the rear, should the bend be pointing in or out? A silly question I agree, but considering the fact that I completely misunderstood this I gotta ask.

Right now I have the bend pointing in, but if the trailing edge of the rudder should be pointing out then maybe it would make sense to have the tiller tubes pointing out as well.

This could be a big part of the continued weather helm I'm still getting. I raked in the rudders 1 5/8" and it does point slightly upwind when I let the tiller go. I also installed gap fillers on all four rudder bolts to take up the slack and that has helped.

But, despite both of these mods I still get what seems like a bit too much weather helm and also rudder hum while underway.

_________________
'81 H16

If it ain't a blowin', I ain't a goin'

The tiller arms should angle in towards the center of the boat.

Rudder alignment doesn't affect weather helm, it affects the ability to steer with both rudders down. Usually one will ventilate (suck air) or stall before the other one, making it hard to steer in general.

Weather helm can be caused by many things, but the usual culprit is rudder rake.

Rudder hum is caused by the trailing edge profile. There's a FAQ on it.

Plastic rudders (ABS, Lexan, Nylon) are hard to tune. They're too flexible.

Fiberglass (EPO, Racer Rudders) and carbon (EPO2, Euro) rudders cost more, but will hold a tune and make the driving much more enjoyable.