RUDDERS - TIEING DOWN & LOCATING WHILE TRAILERING

Apologies if this has been discussed previously, but I couldn't find anything in a search.

What do you feel is the optimum method to tie the tillers while trailering to locate it sideways so as to stop the rudders flopping about, and to tie the tiller bars down so that the rudders stay up without pulling the tiller bars down too hard?

Regards Geoff

For the past 30 odd years I've used the traveller sheet to tie the cross arm to the rear beam.

This method stops the rudders rotating and keeps them up at the same time.

I kno wsome people who remove their rudders when onthe trailer. Life's too short to make sailing hard work.

Towed Hobies tens of thousands of Kilonmetres and never had a problem.

It bounces a lot more at the rear of the trailer than in the front. I always remove mine to play it safe and put them in the back of the truck. It does not take long to remove 2 pins and remove the rudders. I keep the whole rudder assembly together, just remove it from the boat.

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Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84

Removing them from the boat is the best thing to do.

Tying the tiller crossbar to the rear beam can bend the crossbar.

If you're going to leave the rudders on, use bungie cord to tie the tiller/tiller crossbar connection to the rear pylon on both sides.

I have been trailering my H-16 for 25 years and I always tie the crossbar to the beam at the corner castings. This puts no strain on the rudder crossbar and pulls the rudders up so the stops are not resting on the rudder castings. There was at least one case posted on this forum where someone lost their rudders because the pins came out. He probably pulled the pins to remove the rudders for traveling but didn't put the bottom cotter pins in when sailing. The boat turtled and the pins came out. Since the mast sticks out past the cross beam when trailering, I like having the extra visibility of those white blades. I do tie a white rag on the end of the mast. My average trailering distance is 140 mile round trip.

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Howard

I use a bungie at each end of the rear crossbar. Wrap it twice around the tiller crossbar and rear crossbar. One on each corner and have never had a problem, but I don't drive far. For longer trips, I just remove the rudder and tiller assembly and put in the pickup bed.

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'88 Nationals Blue
Hobie Alter Signature Model
Sail #11

Hobie Mirage Classic

I have a bungie for each side and I strap each bar that comes off the rudder to the hull. Keeps them up and then they cant move side to side.

The requirements vary by jurisdiction. Here we need to tie a red flag 1 sqft or larger to any load sticking out more than 4 feet behind.

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Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84

I take 2 bungee crords and tie the tillers to the hulls. they don't move and don't fall.

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'72 Hobie 16
with
#56 Gonzo Nationals

Take the rudders off for trailoring. Bumping down the road wears out the tiller arm holes, the lower casting holes, the gudgeons etc. Basically every place there is a bolt or a pin located get "egged" out and this leads to a sloppy system.

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ADDICTION
1989 HOBIE 18 SE/sx wings
HOBIE ALTER SIGNATURE MODEL

I trailer my H16 a couple times a week for about a mile and use a bungee cord hooked around the tiller crossbar and then down to the rear cross beam on my trailer. It keeps the rudders locked in the up position and pointing backwards while trailering.

Unfortunately I have to take my mast off of the trailer and lower my rudders inorder to get my boat/trailer in my garage each time. The single 24" bungee cord on the tiller crossbar is easy to put on or take off.

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Tim
84 H16
82 H16
87 H14T
Tortola Sails: 115222
Blue Prism Sails: 88863
Clearwater, FL