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Trailering - long trips - rudders on/off and other tips?
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Author:  jonh [ Sat Jul 21, 2012 10:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Trailering - long trips - rudders on/off and other tips?
I didn't want to hijack the other recent trailering thread but have a trailering question as well around rudders/long distance trailering. If you trailer for an extended period - I'll throw out a number of 3 hours or more - do you leave rudders on the boat or remove them? Seems like on a long trip, with the weight of the extended EPO rudders, bouncing and yawing along on the highway and back roads could take a toll on the gudgeons and other rudder hardware.

I'm sure sailing puts even more significant stresses on the rudder hardware but at least that is by design as opposed to what's happening on a trailer. Or maybe the trailer motion is insignificant compared to sailing and so no worries. Plus the tradeoff hassle and time it takes to remove and reinstall...

So what do you do with the rudders? Any other long distance trailering tips (aside from basics [but feel free to chime in on these anyway]: checking bearings, ties downs, tire pressure, etc). We have a 5 hour trip ahead and looking for your tips and experience. I'm sure many of you have hauled much longer 8) . Thanks!
Author:  Bill 404 [ Sun Jul 22, 2012 2:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Trailering - long trips - rudders on/off and other tips?
I always remove my rudders for long trips because I drive a little fast and hard and don't want the rudders bouncing around. On my 16 trailer, I built an aluminum sail storage box called the "mailbox" that has a redwood tray that the rudder assembly lays in wrapped up in beach towels.On my 21 trailer, I built an aluminum sail tube big enough to hold my rudder assemble and sails.


If you want sometime to last, Take good care of it.


But if I am just driving to the lake for the weekend, I leave them on.

Once I get my boats homes and wash them off. I like to store my rudders out of the sun and in the sail tubes than put on the boat covers. :D
Author:  MBounds [ Sun Jul 22, 2012 5:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Trailering - long trips - rudders on/off and other tips?
The worst enemy of your boat while trailering is vibration and chafe.

Any trip more than an hour, and I strip the boat down - no rudders, no wires or rigging on the mast. For really long trips, even the jib sheets and bridles come off.

Tie-down straps shouldn't touch the hulls and shouldn't flutter in the slipstream (put a twist in them to stop flutter).
Author:  richestorags [ Sun Jul 22, 2012 7:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Trailering - long trips - rudders on/off and other tips?
what do you tie down, if not the pontoons? the tramp frame and/or dolphin bar?
Author:  Karl Brogger [ Mon Jul 23, 2012 2:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Trailering - long trips - rudders on/off and other tips?
I go front to back with two straps over the beams
Author:  richestorags [ Mon Jul 23, 2012 7:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Trailering - long trips - rudders on/off and other tips?
fair enough...
Author:  MBounds [ Mon Jul 23, 2012 7:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Trailering - long trips - rudders on/off and other tips?
richestorags wrote:
what do you tie down, if not the pontoons? the tramp frame and/or dolphin bar?

Do a search for tie-downs and you'll find pictures of my system (which is just a modification of a system that you can get from your Hobie dealer).
Image
Author:  Hobie Nick [ Wed Jul 25, 2012 1:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Trailering - long trips - rudders on/off and other tips?
I know this is an obvious one, but from what I have seen it needs to be said. Have a spare that is inflated to the proper pressure and in good shape. The only thing that is worse than getting a flat on your trailer is not having a spare to repace it with.

I do not know how many trailers I have seen without spares. Several of the ones that do have spares the rim is rusted out or the tire is dry rotted severely.
Author:  PurdueZach [ Wed Jul 25, 2012 2:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Trailering - long trips - rudders on/off and other tips?
Hobie Nick wrote:
I know this is an obvious one, but from what I have seen it needs to be said. Have a spare that is inflated to the proper pressure and in good shape. The only thing that is worse than getting a flat on your trailer is not having a spare to repace it with.

I do not know how many trailers I have seen without spares. Several of the ones that do have spares the rim is rusted out or the tire is dry rotted severely.


On that note, I even keep a spare hub just in case the hub goes to hell. I replaced the hubs last year and just bought an extra to put in my cat box. They are only like $30 from Northern Tool and are easy enough to install on the side of the road if need be. It definitely won't be fun but it gives you a way out if the hub seizes up. Most importantly, check your bearings regularly and make sure you have enough grease.

Also, a little tip with spare tire carriers: try not to have it set up vertically where the tire hangs below the frame. If you're like me and are constantly backing the trailer over hills, curbs, and jet ski riders you'll be glad that the trailer isn't riding low and rubbing on everything. The previous picture is a good place to put it except it may be a little difficult to get in there and undo it under the boat. I even went to the extreme of mounting it on the right side of the trailer so that I'm not hanging out into traffic if I'm on the side of the road. Probably a little OCD but it makes me happy :roll:
Author:  jonh [ Wed Aug 01, 2012 7:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Trailering - long trips - rudders on/off and other tips?
Thanks for all the tips :!: Planning a trip to Oak Island, NC and this is all helpful.
Author:  HOBIE 911 [ Mon Aug 20, 2012 3:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Trailering - long trips - rudders on/off and other tips?
My rudders come off every time it leaves the beach. Over time, 1 mile or 50 miles the mounting holes will "egg out" from the vibration going down the road. It does add to the set-up and take down time, but filling and redrilling the holes is a pain in the a__. Have fun, Jim.
Author:  Robie Hobie [ Sat Aug 22, 2020 1:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Trailering - long trips - rudders on/off and other tips?
These posts are older, but exactly what I was looking for. Doing a final assembly putting my $50 boat purchase together and am heading out for it's first sail in over 10 years (prior owner broke the comp tip and bent the trailer then gave up) and my first sail ever.

The rudders were my reason for seeking this post, but good ideas on stripping the cables down as well. I just didn't like the rudders hanging out there to get whacked. Thanks everyone
Author:  dorienc [ Sat Aug 22, 2020 4:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Trailering - long trips - rudders on/off and other tips?
Along with a spare tire, make sure you have a lug wrench that will fit the trailer wheel nuts. And a jack that will lift the trailer. Your car stuff might...or might not.
Author:  Robie Hobie [ Sun Aug 23, 2020 6:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Trailering - long trips - rudders on/off and other tips?
Yep, got that covered. Traveling with an RV complete with generator, socompressor and impact wrenches. 3 different jacks for all occasions.
Author:  Robie Hobie [ Mon Sep 07, 2020 10:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Trailering - long trips - rudders on/off and other tips?
Other than the forward post holding the mast, what do most folks do about the trailing end of the mast? Just resting on a towel seems inadequate. On my first trip with the H14, (six hours) I rested it on a foam pool swim noodle and attached a ratchet strap to the tang for a certain level of confidence that I wouldn't lose the mast. It was only lightly ratcheted. The upper mast post had a bungee holding it on.
I've been thinking of having a shorter mast post made for the rear that unpins down out of the way so as to load and unload the hull.

Any thoughts?
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