I have an older 1982 hobie that is a little bit of a fight all the time because of the tiller wanting to turn into the wind. i.e weathering

Up till now it hasn't been much of problem but as I'm wanting to get out on the trap more and sailing solo it's a bit of a fight. Playing with the rake has helped a little but surely there are some ideas on what to try. It should hold course a lot better I would think.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Hello,
There is excellent information about weather helm on http://www.thebeachcats.com
One article on the site is from the "On The Wire" archives.
Another help is the rudder adjustment scans taken from a H16 manual insert.

Good luck,
Jack Hoying
Fort Loramie, Ohio

You mentioned 'Rake' - mast rake or rudder rake? It seems like 83 was the first year for adjustable upper rudder casting. With these you can rake the rudders forward to alleviates some of the helm you feel. It's still there, you just don't feel it as much. The 'On the Wire' archives mentioned, did indeed have some great articles on rudder improvements. If you do have the adjustable rudder castings, and they're not working, then you'll probably need to re-work and re-tighten the rudder system to make them more effective.

Mast Rake is only thing I have played with.

I have an 82 with no adjustable upper rudder casting... according to http://www.thebeachcats.com/modules...mp;file=index&include=view_album.php I should have a socket buttonhead adjusting screw on top of the tiller arm.
..... I do not

Recommendation of drilling holes to adjust the rake on the rudders was an idea... ugh ... One of those I'd sure like to see done right first.

The "on the wire" archive info is excellent and as I have been addressing the balance between the Centre of Effort - CE and the Centre of Lateral Resistance - CLR (i.e. mast rake I have been working with has been right on) but....

Adjusting the rudder rake and getting the "Tiller Tug" to a tolerable level is my main problem now. I just wonder if my rudder assembly etc was swapped out at some point. My boat is an 82 but does not have this feature.

by the way thanks for the help.

There may have been a few late 82 boats that had the adjustable upper castings, but I'm fairly sure the feature became standard in 83. So, it's not unusual that your boat doesn't have em.

Even if you find em, there's an outside chance you may still have to fill with epoxy and re-drill the back holes in the rudders. To get them to rake correctly. Most use Marine Tex, cause the color matches and the stuff is really thick and easy to apply. Unfortunately this job absolutely requires a drill press to re-drill the holes correctly. A hand drill will just make a big mess.

I'd check Ebay or some of the other catsail classified and find some adjustable castings. You might also check Sailing Pro Shop
http://www.sailingproshop.com/ They carry used parts, but may be little higher. I've got several port side tiller arms and casting from a box of stuff I bought and will never use, but one left one is not gonna do you a lotta good.

The effort is worth it. I got mine fixed up a couple a years ago, and the rudders work like a dream. Just a slight tiller tug with maximum mast rake.

I have a set of upper castings/tillers with the rake adjuster screw for sale. Email me at danberger@mindspring.com if you are still looking.