Is rudder hum on a Hobie 20 normal? At least I think it is rudder hum. Should anything be done to stop rudder hum? Also, what is the best way to adjust the tiller cross bar so that both rudders are parallel?
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<br>Paul
<br>H20 #714<br><br>

Rudder hum is the norm as they are shipped from the factory. It may be hum comming from your daggerboards also.
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<br>To adjust your tiller so that the rudders are parallel measure down your rudder to a point where the rudder is fully in the water (about 1/3 from the bottom of the rudder) and draw a line parallel to the ground on each rudder. Take a measuring tape and measure the distance between the rudders at the back and at the front of the rudders. This distance should be approximately equal without ever making them toed out. You adjust the toe-in by unclipping one of the rudder arms and spinning the end of the tiller crossbar.
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<br>To correct your rudder hum take your rudders and boards and a pair of sissors. run the pair of sissors down the trailing edge of the boards and rudders to use it like a planning tool. When you get down to about the width of a ballpoint pen tip you are done planning. Now take about 400 grit and start wet sanding the leading and trailing edge to a smooth finnish. Now take some gelcoat and fillin the worm holes that you exposed. Resand again at 400. Then take it down to 600-800 grit till you have a nice looking finish. I did mine except for the waiting for the gelcoat to dry in about two evenings.
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<br>Mike Hill
<br>H20 #791
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