Thanks guys for your posts,
The bolt ropes wont pull out past the end caps dispite grabbing them with a pliers and pulling like a madman.

Whats a chicken line.

The rudders have a shock cord running down thru the tube, over the sheave and down thru a hole in the back of the rudder. when loose, the chord pulls the rudder up.
To hold them down, there is a 1/4" line running from the front side of the rudder, up over a sheave, and to the front of the tube thru a clam cleat.
It seems to me that if I run acriss anything in the water or run aground and cant release the clam cleats in time its going to bust up my rudders pretty good, or rip them off the stern. I had a H16 25 years ago and the cam release worked great, although I was sailing off north carolina mostley and when the jellyfish were swarming and the rudders would strike them they would kick up a little too often. Is there a better way to hold down the rudders than a clam cleat?

I tried to pop out the pins that hold in these sheaves using a punch and they didnt budge. I stopped because I didnt want to break anything. I fugured I better get some response before brating the crap out of my boat. It looks like this has to be the way to remove the sheaves and pins. I guess I'll try it again. Im sure the pins havent moved since 78 when the boat was built, they'll be a little tight.

The diamond wires. Do they help produce more power? I understand that they keep the mast from bending. How does this help performance? Is this an off the shelf, universal item that I can buy and just bolt on?

Quick shout to all those AZ catters. I dont think that I can make it to rosevelt this weekend. Im having some problems getting my trailer registered. The previous owner didnt register it properly and there are no vin #'s on it so I have to get a bonded title next week. If anyone knows where I can get a decent trailer cheap, I am interested. Even just a frame with a bad axle. This one is chopped up and rigged together but I have replaced everything on it to make it usable. The registration is the biggest glitch.

You guys have a great time out there. A few more parts and i'll look you guys up. Im the yellow solcat.