My bad - I got lazy and did not renew my aluminum rudder pins at the beginning of the season. My castings are drilled out and I use the Bushings. Back in May when I checked them, I saw some signs of wear at the level of the gudgeons, but figured they should last the season. Bad move.
So yesterday evening, during our weekly club races, with winds SW 9 k gusting 17 k, 26C or 79F, we got the perfect start in the first race. Double trapped upwind, the only boat ahead of us was Josh's NACRA F18. We were beating Tornados, and F18 Capricorn and an Inter 20! Downwind, we picked our angles perfectly, and under spin, we flew, picking up speed in the gusts. We held our position on the upwind again, and on the final downwind, we flew even faster, gybing for the run to the finish....when I felt the Port rudder go funny on me. We finished 2nd overall, and probably 1st on handicap.
Afterwards, we saw that the pin sheared at the lower gudgeon, then the pin was 'free' of the lower, so the upper casting bent the top of the pin. Even though I carry a spare pin on board, this was nothing we could fix on the water. Safely back on shore, we replaced the pin, however, we could not get back out in time to compete in 2nd and 3rd races.....pity.
I know, I know, the guru's will advise me to go for SS pins. However, I sail where there are reefs and rocks, and I'd rather shear a rudder pin than break a casting or have the transom of the boat torn out.
QUESTIONS - How often do you replace your pins? - If you've broken a pin, what was the cause? - For those who run with a spin, have you observed greater stress on the rudders?
_________________ 2015 H16, with spin, SOLD 1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947 "In Theory..." 'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'
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