Rudder up/down cleating problems in 2019 model

I’m not sure about previous models of the Tandem Island but the 2019 uses small roller cleats to secure the rudder up and down cords.
A good idea BUT the springs in these cleats are so strong that the rudder chord can often not be pulled into the cleat, rendering the system useless.
For whatever reason, the internal springs are even stronger than those in the main sheet roller cleats !
A workaround is to remove one spring and let its associated roller rotate passively but this is not ideal.

So – I think a review of the spring strength in the roller cleats is very much in order.

You should be pulling the line down into and through the cleat as you pull the line out. If you hold the line up and then try to pull down into the cleat without the line pulling out at the same time... that would not work well.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Thanks for your response - Yup, I am familiar with how cleats should be operated...

Firstly, because of the orientation of the cleat, the angle of pull down is limited by the flattish surface on which the cleat is mounted;
Secondly, even if I pull down as much as is possible and push directly down on the cord as it exits the leaves of the cleat, the resistance of the leaves is still too much to open for the chord.

I'll ping engineering on this.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Thanks, Matt.

I think that the Island is a clever and a very smart design - most enjoyable to sail.

it's just these little things...

If the jaws don't swivel freely using your fingers, you have a friction issue. Have you tried adjusting the screw tension?

_________________
Tony Stott
2012 Tandem Island "SIC EM" with Hobie spinnaker

No friction to speak of.
I've looked carefully at the action and how the up/down chords engage with the top and the edges of the jaws and think that the spring is just too darned strong for this design.
After all, the whole purpose of a cleat is that it is the chord tension that mainly pulls the jaws shut against each other and not the pressure of the locating spring whose function is, arguably, just to keep the jaws resting together.

No answer yet from engineering. It's on the AI as well and Jim says no issue with that boat in his mind. Might be placement or angle on the TI making it different?

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Yup, maybe. The positioning certainly makes it difficult to perform a short, sharp jerk downwards relative to the cleat jaws.