I just brought my newly purchased Nacra 5.2 home. I basically stole this boat. I paid $500 for it and you will be able to see from the pictures that it is amazing.

You can't see the sails in any pictures but they are amazing, he had told me they were "ok" but when I got there they were still crisp and very clean.

The pictures are before I cleaned it up, it is shining now.

Sorry guys I just wanted to brag about my new boat!!!

cool..

That's awsome! I particularly like the "Thank you" sign

Be very careful if you are going to trailer with the rudders on. Many a rudder has dropped down and been dragged across the pavement for miles. It also doesn't help the gudgeons or transoms to have the weight of the rudders bouncing up and down on them for miles and miles. All you need to do is buy a cheap pair of sweat pants and slip the rudders one into each leg, then put them on the back seat of your car.

You did get a good deal on the boat, now get out and enjoy it! Where will you be sailing it?

I hated trailoring with the rudders on, but I didn't have a wrench to take them off, I will probably do exactly what you said with the sweat pants. Do you have any ideas for daggerboard covers?
I will be sailing around OKC in Oklahoma, althougth I will make it up to the North eastern corner of the state over the summer.
I am pretty happy with the boat, I have it all cleaned up and am about the wax it.

Depending on how wide the daggerboards are, you could do the same thing, buy some size XL sweatpants and slide them in. OR...spend a few bucks on some padded fabric, take it to an upholstry shop with the boards and have them sew up some covers.

I hadn't thought of making some covers, I have a giant piece of very thick fleece and access to a sowing machine. And sadly I learned how to use one in HS, I promise I only took the class because there was an amazing girl in it that liked me.
But like I was saying I think I can make covers, I bet that stuff is thick enough to pad them and it will be easy to use. Thanks you just gave me a great idea, I will make my own covers!

Use the covers and NEVER tow with rudders on. It is the kiss of DEATH to rudders and all associated hardware. Vibration will beat them to death, let alone ruin all your neutral helm adjustments. Good lick with new boat. Looks like you got one HECK of a deal.

Doug Snell
Hobie 17 "Stress Free" #007

Yeah, I didn't have the tools or the time to take the rudders off the boat that day. I didn't know it was that hard on stuff, I am kinda scared now, no more hauling the boat with them on.
and about the deal I got, it was amazing, now that i have had time to set the boat up and clean it up, this boat looks like it is from the factory. I am kinda in a state of shock!

Good move! Another way to attract women is to get an ear ring. That indicates to the ladies that you know how to pick out jewelry and you can handle pain.

Congrats on the purchase! I started on a 5.2 about 6 years ago and I scrounged a nasty grungy one up for $1100 and completely rebuilt it into a bit of a hot-rod. There are a few of us here that are very familiar with the boat so holler' if you have any questions.

I towed with the rudders on for about a year before I started to get worried about them. If you put a pin in with a damnit-ring, they're pretty easy to remove quickly. Don't store them on the trampoline however, they will wear through in the vibration and bouncing (not personal experience - but I've seen it).

I bought this for $600, BUT she was a basket case. I spent a LOT to get it right. You were VERY lucky. Let us see her all cleaned up.

Doug

I am breaking out the wetsuites on Friday, and taking her out, I had her all set up today but my camera was at the house and I was alone about a mile away so I couldn't go get it. I set the boat up at the local park that sits right by a busy street, I was doing this around rush hour, I got alot of looks and drew a crowd of about 20 people asking questions about the boat. I wish I had gotten some pictures, some other people did.
But like I said I am headed out on friday, I will make sure to grab a few pictures of the boat while she is set up.

gree,
There is more than one opinion about taking rudders off for trailering. Rick and I have traveled tens of thousands of miles without taking our rudders off, and never had a problem.

I'm not suggesting that you leave your rudders on, because sure as I do, you WILL have a problem. However, we like our rigging/derigging time to be as fast and easy as possible.

Some people are perfectionists and really enjoy the time spent rigging and working on their boats. Others just want to get to the water and sail. So I think that whether or not to remove your rudders is more a matter of philosophy than necessity. (May be different for the newer, super-lightweight boats.)

Mary is mostly correct but I think the Hobie style rudder systems lend themselves better to towing with them on. You can tie the cross bar to the rear beam and effectively lock down the cam that keeps the rudders in the up position. That older Nacra rudder system simply holds the rudders up with a bunji - there is no positive lock. Because of that, it's a little more risky IMHO.

I put a tennis ball into the rudder (I am blanking on the word)- rudder casting?) piece to keep the rudders up on short trips but take them off for long trips.

We trailered our Nacra 6.0 with the rudders on. We had covers on the rudders and tied a line from the end of the rudder cover to the boat to hold the rudder up.

Thats a good idea.. I assume the covers wouldn't come off easily <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I will tend to agree with Mary. I hear of all the horror stories and detriment to trailering with the rudders on but I trailered my TheMightyHobie18 for 15 years rarely taking the rudders off. For the light racing and fun sailing we did/do it never seemed to be an issue. Also you don't have to find a place for them while traveling. I would agree that they need to be locked down so they do not drop, but I think that is prudent for any component on the boat or trailer.

Clayton

Guys/Gals:

I still say the vibration unless it is a short trip will put slop in the rudders. I have mine tuned to nice touch. I want to keep them that way.

Doug Snell