Hello all- As you know I am a new Monty 17 owner. I have a few questions (and many more to come about other items!) about the mounting of the rudder. I learned here that on my vintage Monty (1979) the ruder is attached with a SS rod (supposed to be tapered at bottom end). It is designed to "stop" at bottom end so as not to slide out (lower gudgeon is smaller). A cotter pin is then used just below bottom gudgeon (through rod) to prevent rod from sliding upwards. Dilemma: My rods ( I received 2 when I purchased) are not tapered and my rudder and transom gudgeons all have the same diameter rod hole. My rods have 2 cotter pin holes (with 1/8" of each other) at one end. I am trying to slide rod down through gudgeons and attach 2 cotter rings at bottom transom gudgeon (one above and one below). However, once attached, rudder will not slide up and down on rod. It turns smoothly but will not slide up/down unless I force it up while turning it back and forth. I am placing top rudder gudgeon above top transom gudgeon. Is this correct? I am thinking that the rudder gudgeons may not be perfectly aligned (wood expanded/contracted) and this is the cause. The rod slides through transom gudgeons without much friction. When rudder is sliding correctly and is all the way up the rod, does it clear most ramps for launching/retrieving? Any thoughts on this arrangement? Am I installing correctly? Am I missing something? Thanks, Carlos