Hi Rick..... Install the rudder on the trailer; install the cotter pin. Then thread a line as described below.(you might already have this line in a locker somewhere on the boat) You can leave the rudder on and in the UP position. Look at the flat top of your stern; notice theeye strap and the cam cleat....?...that's how you lift the rudder. Tie a knot in one end of a line (I use 5/16 Yachtbraid; the knot goes on the foreward side of the eyestrap) and thread it down, thru that HOLE in your rudder and back up to the cam cleat. Put a loop for your hand AFTER the cam cleat and cut any excess line off. (You do have a one inch hole in the rudder) To raise the rudder up 14 inches, simply sit in the cockpit and pull the loop forward, locking the linewith the cam cleat. You can also raise the rudder like this for thin water. Always have it locked upwhen launching. Fair windsBob(949) 489-8227 107 degrees at our shop today......
From: rick@skyko.com> To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:02:38 -0800> Subject: M_Boats: rudder question> > Hi guys,> > In the past we have been intalling the non-tilt factory rudder (2005 model I guess) on our M17 after the boat is in the water so that the rudder does not scrape when launching. My wife noticed that the rudder can slide up about a foot on it's three hinges, and I was wondering if any of you launch with it pre-installed but tied somehow so that it is at the top of it's hinge travel (if that makes sense). It is quite the pain to insert the cotter pin at the bottom of the rudder hinge rod because this is several inches below water when the boat has been launched. I was actually thinking of drilling a new hole for a higher cotter pin until my wife mentioned we might be able to pre-install the rudder during setup.> > Thanks for any tips,> > Rick> M17-635 Eidolon> > > _______________________________________________> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats