Large rudder - does it help with tracking?

Only thing about the PA that irks me is the seeming inability to track straight. Take your hand off the rudder steer rod for a second and whammo - you're turning left or right. Constant little adjustment are always needed.

Does the larger rudder help with this at all?

Thanks,

Yep, sort of like driving a car or flying a plane - you have to steer it continually. Boats are affected 100% of the time by current, wind and trim.

A larger rudder is mostly going to allow for "steerage" at a lower speed. So if the standard rudder isn't really effective below say, 1.5 MPH, the larger rudder may take that down to 1MPH or whatever. But you're still going to have to steer the boat constantly.

I have heard the 2015 with the skeg has really helped with the tracking. I had 09's&10's, and the main issue was the steering, but going to get a 2015 PA 14 in Papaya when it gets to my dealer.

One thing not to overlook is the "steering boa" Hobie implemented with the 2014 PA......My 2013 PA-14 had "rudder line" slack or slop I could not eliminate until I retrofitted my PA with the steering boa.
I mainly down rig fish and since the speed is typically 1.5 to 2.0 mph, removing the rudder line slack made an instant improvement.

I had already installed the larger rudder and found it made a slight improvement in low speed tracking, but installing the line boa was well worth the effort.

Keep in mind that at lower speeds, the quickest way to obtain "rudder steerage control" is to apply short, quick/rapid/flutter strokes to the mirage drive......My PA-14 responds almost instantly to this technique.

_________________
Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR

Sorry if this is slightly off topic,

If a person had a 2015 PA12 with the standard rudder and the skeg, would they need the "sailing rudder" to use the Hobie sail kit or would they be set as is?

thanks,
fred

Fred, Hobie does not make a sailing rudder for the PA's.....they do make rudder P/N 84612001 that is about 25% larger than the standard rudder. However, the larger rudder extends about 2" below the hull when retracted so you can't stand up the PA on the aft "skid guards" unless you make a support to prevent damaging the rudder assembly.

So far, I do not recall reading where a pre-2015 model year, PA-12 or PA-14 owner has used the larger rudder with their sailing kit. Perhaps some one else will chime in on this question.

_________________
Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR

"Steering Boa?" Apologies, but I have no idea what that means. Can you provide some details? I think my PA is a 2014, but may be a 2013.

Thanks for any info.

I have the 2015 PA12 and have fitted the larger rudder and have sailed it once in decent breeze with the skeg down .

Unfortunately I have no experience other than a quick test drive of a 2014 model of the PA12 without the skeg .

However a couple of my fishing buddies who owned 2014 or earlier PA12's spent three days at the Hobie grand bream final in Australia in the new PA's and said tracking was greatly increased with the new skeg but as it hangs down into water even when retracted it did have an effect on steering with the standard rudder .
I fitted the big rudder the moment I purchased mine and found the steering to be fine and it certainly tracks better than the PA14's and 12's I have had had brief exposure to (skeg down ).
It is not any worse than my Revo 13 with a sailing rudder when it comes to tracking in my opinion .

I have not sailed a PA before but was pleasantly surprised by how it handled moderate winds with the skeg down .Its no speed demon but much more forgiving than the Revo 13 with Hobie sail and no outriggers .

rudder cable tension certainly makes a dramatic difference to rudder feel and over correction .
I certainly would be fitting big rudder to any PA I bought as its such a cheap and easy mod to do .I have made the Sven Dog rudder protector and had no issues handling the yak .

_________________
2015 Hobie Pro Angler 12 , Hobie Revolution 13

mswMelbourneFL ...the steering boa is a spectra line tensioner that "removes the slack" from the line that runs crosswise under the deck between the left and right steering handles.
It looks just like the Vantage ST seat lumbar boa, has a engraved on the flat mounting flange "rudder tension", is mounted a couple of inches off the deck, on the left side vertical wall. You can't miss seeing it!

If you are at all "handy", I would highly recommend installing this device as it really improved steerage control on my PA-14.

_________________
Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR

Found it - thanks for the tip. Had no idea it was even there..

So I tightened it just a tad, but noticed there was no way to back it off. Am I missing something?

Thanks for the tip. Looking forward to trying it out next week.

Pull out the round adjusting knob.....same for reducing tension on the seat back/lumbar adjustment......it should be in your owners manual too.

_________________
Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR

Does the steering boa come with instructions on install if you order one. I have been keeping the line tight by removing the rudder cover and adjusting periodically,

When I installed my boa last year, there were no instructions as Hobie was busy with other stuff.

I went to my local Hobie dealer and recorded the exact boa mounting location dimensions from a 2014 PA-14 on the side wall.
Also, by using a mirror and flash light or better yet, use a cell phone to take pictures inside the hull of the boa connections.

Hobie does have a diagram of the PA dual steering line routing for reference http://static.hobiecat.com/digital_asse ... iagram.pdf .....the fwd left turning block is what the boa connects to in order to remove slack from the system.

I did need to remove one of the side flotation blocks, so it can be trimmed to clear the boa internally and then reinstall the foam block once finished.

I had to do all of the internal connecting by feel as I can't stand upside down on my head due to inner ear issues.
All in all, it's not impossible to install and well worth the effort.

_________________
Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR

Installing a second rudder handle on the other side of the PA can also help impart momentary tension in the cable.

Cheers,
Graeme