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