Rudder lock when landing on Rocky/Sandy Beach

Hello,

I plan on landing using a Hobie Tandem Island 2016 on a sandy beach with some rocks on the main shore. I have heard that you can simply unlock your rudder and the beach will push the rudder up naturally without losing steering as you land. Do people tend to unlock and raise their rudder entirely or do they unlock the rudder and allow the landing to push the rudder up naturally so that they continue having steering during landing.

Thanks!

It depends. I've done both. If there is no wind or surf to fight coming into the beach then you can line it up, gain some "ramming" speed, and pull the rudder. It will track fairly well. Introduce some wind and waves though and it's a different story. That's when I would just unlock the rudder to maintain steering and let the beach push the rudder up. Just be extra careful that the down line doesn't slip back into the cleat. Quick way to snap a rudder pin that way.

Sent from my SPH-L720T using Tapatalk

_________________
2015 Hobie Tandem Island Hibiscus
"Third Normal Form"

• Trampolines
• Hobie cover
• Davis Spar Fly
• Kayakbob's Sprayskirts
• Spine Board Hakas

On an inland lake, with a sand bottom, it's a no brainer. Just unhook the rudder and beach your TI.

Sailing on the Fl. panhandle with sand beaches I've used the same procedure. This method gives you some 'last minute' control i.e., a swimmer, wind gust, etc., should you need it.

Same holds true for the center board. Unhook it and ride to the beach.