Got reminded yesterday about knowing how to jury rig your rudder setup in case of cable failure when out at sea. Got home smiling big time as it was a sweet run but I'll be better prepared in future as this same sort of situation can do more than just ruin a good run if you don't know how to deal with it.
I was half through a sweet downwinder yesterday when the cable failed hence no steering and a hard trip home if you can't fix your fin.
Ended up jamming the leash cord around the fin to lock it in place just to get home. Didn't expect to have the fun I had coming back by just letting the Big Bullet find her own way through the bumps by just standing back a little more than usual.
Probably had more fun in the second half of the trip when it could have a nightmare if I couldn't have fixed the fin. Had a ball!
Excuse the sad state of my Bullet. She's had a hard life. The repair is from hitting a rock coming home a few months ago and the orig fin folded 2 days ago in a car park probably as a result of the same rock. The replacement was only built yesterday morning.
Sam.
sam, i reckon they need to work on the rudder shaft system. everyone up here has broken of their rudders at least once. the stainless steel shaft only runs up about 40 mm into the rudder its self. the rudder core is very light aerated so the slightest knock from a wave with the fin near the sand results in the rudder breaking off.
i know it saves the board from damaged but its been a pain.
the cables need to be washed down and i sprayed mine from time to time wit crc. carrying some tilers wedges isn't a bad idea too
cheers
After a similar incident on an OC1 a few years back, I used to carry a short length of silicone tube (10cm) which you can wrap around the shaft between the rudder and the board to wedge the rudder in place. You can keep a piece of silicone in your key pocket or boardies for ever without too much degradation. It'll get you home in a straight line and go back in your pocket after you've fixed the repair.
Funny thing is that Sam actually seemed to go faster with no steering,,,he left us behind
