anyone come up with (or is there another way it is done now anyway) a different method of holding the rudders on the pintles? The current set up I have is a cotter pin (or clip) that goes through the pintle. I have tried other methods (a collar - a drill stop type of thing- but the distance between the pintle and the casing is too little). The cotter pin deal inevitably gets rounded which then cuts into the carbon casing with the repeated back and forth.
hope you guys know what I am talking about.

finally in Fl to do some sailing but the weather is out of wack... should have come last week!

Patrick,

I've tried various things and still find the Pintle Spring Clip (P/N 21-0413) from Murray's Marine works best. You can also find these at local Hobie Dealers. They're expensive (for what you get -- $3.50 ea.) so you don't want to order them unless you combine it with other stuff (or you'll get killed on shipping and handle fees).

I will check with Kirk at Keysailing... sure he probably has them.
But has anyone come up with anything different? I will try to take a pic or what is happening to the carbon due to the abrasion. Has anyone else had this problem? it isn't compromising the structure though.

http://www.apsltd.com/Tree/d3000/e740.asp

RWO 0767 - Rudder Retaining Clip. Got tired of the pins. I had to remove the plastic covering on the tip (no big deal). I'm sure you can find other manufacturers that produce them without the plastic cover.

I was skeptical about adding 2 holes in the stern per hull but no leaks using 3M 5200. 2003 F-18 had them as factory, same for 1998ish Taipans.

Kris
F-16
WRCRA / WRSC

I've lost 3 of these things in a year, the good news is the rudder never came up and off the pintles, but when you pull up on the beach and it's gone...

I've found something similar to the $3.50 cotter pins at Home Depot for about 50 cents. Looks the same, a little longer, I put them in, use my Leatherman to bend the longer ends over and then put some tape around it just to be sure. I have not noticed any wear on the carbon rudder head, but now I'm going to go look!

I would prefer to have the clips I had on the Inter 20 (like the Ronstan ones listed above), the rudders never came off and there was nothing to lose.

I'm learning to copy what Kris does to his boat. Unlike Kris I didn't remove the black caps nor did I use any goo. They work great. Ed

I might try that. I think you do need to be careful because they can work themselves loose (the clips). I am probably overstating the case about the pins wearing into the carbon though. I looked again and it is there but I doubt that it would ever become a structual issue.

No wear on the carbon, leave a small gap so it does not rub but far less of a gap than the pin. I used to chuckle when I finished a race and lost another pin until I capsized without the retaining pin. Then you are in hot water, especially if you're in rough conditions and its your skyward rudder.

The mounting bolts go through the metal shank imbedded in the sterns, so a very tight install can be achieved. Also, 3M 5200 makes sure that it is a non-slip/leak install. One of the few places to use 5200 because it is so permanent, as in not to seat your beams.

Ed. Most of my inspiration is Constantine's Taipan. And.....if only I could reciprocate and finish as well as you.

Kris
F-16
WRCRA / WRSC

Another part of the issue is that the rudder pull down lines actually pull the rudders up against the pins- causing more friction... and now that I think about it, this would be a reason the clips wouldn't work.