I have a 2011 Hobie Tandem Island, and the rudder handles are incredibly stiff. How do I fix this?
The handles are stiff because of the handle/kayak interface. I have removed all of the tension from the rudder lines, and the handle is so stiff it feels like I'm going to break it just to get it to rotate.
I have taken the tiller handle off and studied the mechanism from the inside, and I cannot figure out how to relax some of the friction. It seems like after removing the handle and removing the horizontal pin I should hammer the exposed metallic cylinder through to the inside of the boat where I could apply some grease. I've tapped on it a few times with a rubber mallet, but it doesn't appear to want to budge, nor do I want to tap harder if this is the wrong approach.
Hobie thinks of everything, so I am confident there is any easy fix, I just need someone to show me the way... In the meantime, my Trimaran Sailyak will sit sullenly idle in my garage until I can figure this out...
|