2015 AI: Rudder-Down line twisted?

viz: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipP ... JaRW5TYzBR

Few days ago it started jamming - leaving 8" of line in the cockpit..... my guess is that it finally got one twist too many and the line stopped running through the pulleys.

No problem un-twisting it.... once I figure out how to capture the aft pulley, I'll just disassemble and un-twist.

But I'm wondering how it got twisted in the first place.

Maybe I'm missing something and twisted is not the real issue.

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2015 AI in "Dune" - "The Grey Pig"
2017 Trailex 450 Trailer
Pre-September 2015 cradles
(anybody want to buy a slightly-used AI SpinKit?)
eMail: [email protected]

Lines under tension commonly get a twist in them. May be a quick release that transfers that to the internal system, I have heard of this before.

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

I had this problem, which eventually led to my rudder not going down fully, which then caused huge control issues, as the rudder was no longer counter-balanced, resulting in unmanageable steering loads (leading to an emergency "crash landing" in surf on one occasion. I solved the problem by adding a swivel (purchased from my local fishing tackle shop). The line is now butter-smooth, with a satisfying clunk as the rudder hits its down stops.

Somebody here said that you can counteract the twist tendency on a TI by alternating using front and back controls. Not much help for an AI though!

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Tony Stott
2012 Tandem Island "SIC EM" with Hobie spinnaker

Where did you mount the swivel - fore or aft ?

I pulled the whole thing apart. (I can post a blow-by-blow if somebody wants... but suffice to say you have to take care to capture each end of the system with some thin line or you will be fishing for parts).

Un-twisted the twisted part, re-assembled, and the slack was reduced by about 1/3... but I still have a good six inches of slack when I release the "Down" rudder line.

Figured the bungee was worn out, so I took a hitch in the bungee, but to no avail.

I'm thinking something else in the system is twisted or something...

But the swivel sounds like a must-do for me - just on GPs.

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2015 AI in "Dune" - "The Grey Pig"
2017 Trailex 450 Trailer
Pre-September 2015 cradles
(anybody want to buy a slightly-used AI SpinKit?)
eMail: [email protected]

Local boat guy did not have any swivels, so I went ahead and sort-of replaced the bungee.

"Sort-Of" because the crimped-on SS wires looked problematic to me so I just took an identical length of the same-sized bungee and put it in parallel with the apparently-tired bungee.

Now the system works a-ok.... for now....

My Conclusion:

• Twisted line, for which the permanent fix is adding a swivel.
  .
• Tired bungee. Why the "Down" side and not the "Up" side.... dunno...

This is the beginning of this AI's second full season.

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2015 AI in "Dune" - "The Grey Pig"
2017 Trailex 450 Trailer
Pre-September 2015 cradles
(anybody want to buy a slightly-used AI SpinKit?)
eMail: [email protected]

I removed the cheekblock located above the foot "corrugations" on the left of the cockpit. I then relocated it forward, where I can reach it through the forward hatch (plugging the old mounting holes).

I untied the down line from its handle, adding a swivel (I ever so slightly went overboard with strength, with a swivel having a breaking strain exceeding 500#!). I then added new line from the handle through the cheekblock, tying it to the other side of the swivel.

Where did I put the swivel? I pulled the rudder up and then down, and set the lengths on either side of the swivel to ensure that the swivel didn't reach the cheekblock.

I got two swivels in the packet, but haven't bothered to fit the spare one to the up line, at least partly because it is not so critical if line twist limits the rudder reaching the fully up position.

A very inexpensive and simple fix....

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Tony Stott
2012 Tandem Island "SIC EM" with Hobie spinnaker

.Maybe this sounds too simple but it worked for me. The down rudder line in the rear was getting twisted with the forward lines. I rotated the down rudder handle/line (CW or CCW ... I don’t remember) ... until the lines straightened out..... a swivel located somewhere on the down rudder line would probably avoid future line twisting, but after straightening out the lines I have not had any further problems.
By far it would be the easiest solution ....Worth a try.
Regards Don
2014 Papaya TI ....... I sail N. CA