mmiller wrote:
The lines can be too tight as well, but the steering should be easy. Something is wrong... guessing too tight.
Thanks Matt, you are an enabler.
The tech at the dealer was adamant it was set tight so it would loosen up and be right after a while and not need to be adjusted. Also he said the lines were routed correctly in the hull after I pointed out the lines corkscrewed around each other between the rear tiller and the rudder. Said that if it didn't loosen up after 10 or so outings to bring it back and they would adjust it. Ultimately it followed me home after thinking about what you said and how I felt things inside were just not "right". Once the lines were untied from the rudder, popped the rear line loop off the tiller inside, untangled the lines, reconnected loop on tiller, the lines moved smoothly. While the lines were untied I decided to correct the crooked rudder alignment. Tip was over an inch kicked to port. My OCD will not accept that. A drill bit and endmill later with a few moments spent machining the gudgeon lower bolt hole .100" oval, the rudder is vertical and clears the hull when swinging up. A few more minutes to adjust the lines and tighten them down, done for now. It feels MUCH better. Then is has rained every day since. lol
I decided to machine the gudgeon instead of the "melt the hull nut over" mentioned in other posts as replacing the gudgeon is WAY cheaper than replacing a hull.
I tried adjusting the rudder like I adjust my i11s with centering the tiller but I kept chasing my tail and kept having more swing one way or the other. What got it even was with lines loose on rudder, push tiller left. push rear of rudder left, pull left line snug and tighten. Keeping the rudder in same left turn position, pull right line snug and tighten. Check the throw and verify even swing to both sides. Did I mention its rained every day since? Fingers crossed for the weekend.