lee helm on starboard tack

Hi,
On my Hobie 18, I have a lee helm on a starboard tack and a weather helm on the port. I've measured the rudders to insure that the tiller crossbar extensions are properly adjusted (e.g. leading rudder edges are same distance as trailing edges), so now I think the cause is rudder rake (e.g. the port rudder is raked more aft than the starboard rudder, giving me lee helm on stbrd tack). Problem is, there is so much fore-aft slop in the rudders that any adjustment is futile. I have already replaced the cams at the top of the rudder housing-still slop.

Can anyone out there recommend a solution? Many thanks!

Plug and re-drill the upper hole to force the rudder forward.

Little confused though. rudders raked more aft will cause weather helm... boat will round up. Lee helm is caused by rudders being too far forward... boat rounds down. The rudder that is loaded is the lee side, so on stbd... port rudder is primary. Try raising one rudder to be sure which is the biggest issue and in which direction you should more the blade.

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

Thanks Matt--you correctly point out that I had my rudder rake confused! I need to rake the port rudder forward. Do you have a recommendation about whether redrilling the rudder holes or adding washers between the gudgeon & transom is better? The Hobie 18 performance manual recommends placing washers between gudgeons & transom at the top to rake rudders forward. Would this be enough, or would redrilling rudder holes be a better option?

Drill the rudder to make it fit tight in the housing. That is first. Don't recall anyone doing the washers version.

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

Ok this post is making me wonder how to test the 18 for a lee or weather helm. Assuming a start with paralell rudders and minimum slop what do you do to test the rudders? What do you plug the holes with prior to redrilling?

Thank you.

_________________
1984 Hobie 18

If the previous holes interfere with the new ones, fill the old with epoxy and then re-drill.

Last time, I had lee helm on one tack and weather helm on another, I felt stupid, but i had put my rudders on the wrong sides.

_________________
1992 Hobie Cat 18 #16943
Hobie Fleet 198, Rapid City, SD

Raise the weather side rudder. Feel the pull of weather helm or for lee helm, the boat would turn down wind if you don't hold (push) the tiller. Repeat on both tacks to determine if there is a difference and which rudder needs adjustment.

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