my initial thought is that with option 2 you will be challenged to lower the rudder assembly as when raised the rod will come out of the lowest gudgeon on the transom. lower the rudder would be especially difficult with a bent 'rudder rod' or if the boat was underway (the motion of the water across the rudder will deflect the transom so the lowest gudgeon is out of line with the upper two gudgeons). i'm thinking that if your rudder is difficult to raise the boat's 'rudder rod' has been been damaged to the point of needing to be replaced; or you could try to straighten the rod. -- :: Dave Scobie :: former M15 owner - www.freewebs.com/m15-named-scred :: M17 #375 SWEET PEA - www.m17-375.webs.com On Fri, Aug 22, 2014 at 10:32 AM, <swwheatley@comcast.net> wrote:
Thanks Dave. I have seen your photos. But, can you think of any reason not to go with option 2? It seems like that would be much more tolerant of slightly bent rods and slightly misaligned fittings.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Scobie" <scoobscobie@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, August 22, 2014 12:01:18 PM
the rudder slides up/down the rod.
my M17's rod isn't all the straight, but no 'crazy' bends, and the rudder moves up/down fine.
there should be a line that goes from the deck-to-transom joint, through a hole in the rudder, and then to the cleat that is on the transom. to raise the rudder pull the line and then hold rudder up by securing line on the cleat. picture of the setup can be seen on my M17's www-site in the home page's banner.
more detailed photos can be provided if necessary
-- :: Dave Scobie :: former M15 owner - www.freewebs.com/m15-named-scred :: M17 #375 SWEET PEA - www.m17-375.webs.com
On Fri, Aug 22, 2014 at 9:53 AM, <swwheatley@comcast.net> wrote:
New M17 owner looking for some guidance on how the rudder is supposed to go up and down. Specifically, is the rod supposed to remain stationary relative to the gudgeons while the rudder mounted fittings (I hesitate to call a pinless fitting a pintle) slide up and down the rod? Or is the rod supposed to slide up and down in the gudgeons while the rudder mounted fittings remain stationary relative to the rod? My boat came to me rigged per option 1, but the least little bend in the rod or misalignment of the fittings makes it virtually impossible to raise the rudder. I've seen photos on-line of M17s rigged per option 2 and that seems like it might be a less fussy arrangement.