Hobie Kickback rudders

I have an old 81' Hobie and the rudders can be quite challenging to get seated if there is wind or not luffed. This becomes an issue when leaving the beach into the wind and when hitting a sand bar in the intra-coastal - typically while really booking! Why are the sandbars strategically placed where the wind is!

Not really holding out a lot of hope for getting the rudders setup to act as smoothly as the newer boats I have sailed and had considered the Hobie Kick Back kit.

I am hoping that this would really help my kids as they really are not strong enough to get the rudders down.

Just looking to see if anyone uses them and also to understand how the rudders "kick up" as they do need to do this when beaching and that occasional sand bar hit. My guess is that these assist with some leverage but do not lock the rudders down.

Thanks!

I have had people in your case use these and love then, on rental boat we would take the cams off and just use a bungee to hold the blades down, tourist friendly!

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Brad Stephens
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This could be a great way to save the day if a cam breaks.

How would we rig a bungee system to hold the rudders down on the standard H16 rudder assembly?

thanks!!

I got a set from Brad at Sunjammers. I sail around Destin Fl and there are alot a of shallows that I end up sailing over. The rudders will unlock but wont come up. Just a little push and they get back into place.

I definantely would get them!!

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It's such a fine line between stupid and clever.

86 H16

A short bungee is always on my boat. I keep it hooks face down slightly stretched at the lacing along the rear crossbar. The bungee also makes a great temporary tiller connecter when those break from going superman off the back. As far as holding a rudder down, Brad I'm sure has the best way to do it. I just hook it in front of the rudder above the water line and run it down through a caribeaner attached below the lower transom criss-cross and then looped around the outside of the rudder. I use the caribeaner to lower my pull point of the bungee. I've just done this for a temporary fix. I'm also heavily medicated right now and at a loss for part terms, so this may not make sense.