That must be it, the rudders on the 5.7 don't turn because Nacra knew once you got on it you would never want to turn back to the beach....reaching forever!
Once you go cat you never go back!
Nacra 5.2 (Elsies)#1499, running an inter17 spin!
Re: '87 nacra 5.7
[Re: AzCat]
#123522 11/17/0701:41 AM11/17/0701:41 AM
Eric, I have been drinking so I might be seeing things but looking at that it shouldnt turn....does the bar rotate upright? In that picture the "hinge" is 90 degrees off where it needs to be.
Once you go cat you never go back!
Nacra 5.2 (Elsies)#1499, running an inter17 spin!
OH, and clean that boat up!!! I can see myself in the side on my 5.2, and it is older than yours. That boat is due a good cleaning and buffing with teflon wax.
Once you go cat you never go back!
Nacra 5.2 (Elsies)#1499, running an inter17 spin!
that pic is from when i first got and assembled the boat
like azcat my rudders sometimes bind and as per my original post to this thread i tracked it to those "universals", as i called them, rotating into a binding position
when i feel them bind my solution has just been to twist the rudder extension which moves the joints out of the bound position and allows the rudders to turn
Rhino pointed out that murrays sold an updated part where the joints were fixed at a certain angle, presumably because many early nacras suffered this problem
my 5.2 is now in parts out at the lake but next spring when i put it back together i will be experimenting with ways to fix those joints at the correct angle to stop the rotation and binding
OK, now about my scruffy hulls, attached is what they looked like when the boat was first offered to me!. the rudder shot is after basic scrub down. since then i've spent a few hours sanding and using compound to get the hulls looking like gelcoat again. now the boats in bits for winter i can proceed with a bottom job and then start on my planned graphics job
Hi Azcat, just a word from someone else who is toward the newbie end compared to most of the guys on this forum. I've found them to be extremely helpful, but it does help if you post a pic or two (as someone suggested) so that everyone can see your exact issue. In the meantime, I've found that the regular posters usually do see the picture and are aware of the various differences (or similarities) in models more than I am. But post a pic of that rudder joint if need be!
These pics should give a pretty good idea of what's happening. When the crossbar is hooked up, it is very limited in the amount it can be turned to either side It makes the tiller stay centered when released.almost like it's spring loaded. If left like it is, it would eventually distort the holes in the tiller arms. even if I force the tiller to the side very hard, the rudders will not go even half way to there full turn position. It seems to me that the tiller should be able to be turned all the way from full port to full stbd. without binding. There is only 6" of tiller travel before it begins to bind. this travel is only allowed by the slop between the attachment pins,the attachment holes in the tiller arms, and the same in the crossbar. Note that the tiller crossbar is not being held in the raised or lowered positions, but is bound there by the angle of the tiller arm in relation to it. I dont think that its a good idea for the tiller to self center. if the boat were to find itself sailing solo, It would potentially go in a pretty straight line, pretty fast. And i'm not a strong enough swimmer to catch a cat straight up. All you vets, dont be afraid to chirp in. By the way, how long do I retain the title of newbie.
The crossbar would not be long enough to do that. Even so, it ould only bind in a different place.I talked to the original owner today, and he said that this is the way he bought it new 20 yrs ago. he also said it turned on a dime. I dont think he has sailed a boat with unrestricted tiller travel though.
