I replaced "Really's " bungee cord with another which has a larger diameter than the stock Bungee. I stretched it and rapped it in masking tape before squeezing it through the rudder hole. I drilled a little larger hole through the tiller. It keeps the the rudder up and deploys to the down position with authority. I replace it every couple years. Rich Cottrell Stanley Winarski <winarski@cox.net> wrote: Sandra, The bungee needs to be tightened by shortening it. Move the knot further up the cord until the rudder will stay up when you go through the routine that raises it. Once it is shorted enough, cut off the tail. Don't shorten it so much that it will not drop when you lift the tiller sharply. Whoever suggested more varnish was pulling your leg. Stan m-15, #177, Carol II _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats