Sailing rudder for Kayak fishing

I wrote this quick article for a few local Kayak Fishing message boards and the response has been great. I can't keep the Sailing Rudder in stock.
Just thought I would pass this on to other dealers and consumers.

[i]Hobie’s NEW High Performance Rudder. Perfectly suited for Kayak Fishing.

By: Nathan ‘steamroll’ Clookie

Wanna quick and easy way to improve to Hobie kayak? Add a high performance sailing rudder to your Hobie Fishing Kayak. It’s a simple upgrade that only takes a few minutes to install. If you can operate a screwdriver, then you change out your rudder.



Before you go ripping off your current rudder blade, let me explain the reasoning behind this upgrade. In my opinion, the 2 major benefits of the larger rudder are responsiveness and its ability to turn the kayak while drift fishing.

The larger rudder makes turning effortless, especially in adverse conditions, and let’s face it, that is when responsiveness counts the most. The bigger blade can really dig in and force your kayak to turn even when wind, wake and current are all working against you.

I do a ton of fishing while sitting sideways in my kayak and letting the current pull me along. The high performance blade allows me to make adjustments to my drift without having paddle or pedal.

Just for fun, let’s do a side by side comparison of the stock blade and the new High Performance blade. The stock blade measures in at a respectable 11 inches tall x 5 inches wide. The upgraded blade comes in at a whopping 14 inches tall x 7 inches wide. That extra surface area does wonders.






Now that we’ve discussed the benefits, let’s talk about installation. Normally I’d refer you to your local Hobie shop for installations, but this one is easy:

1. Grab a Phillips head screwdriver and remove the six (6) screws from the top of the stock rudder blade. Set these aside, you will need them to attach the new blade.



2. Now flip the blade over and pull out the six (6) lock nuts.



3. Insert the lock nuts into your new rudder blade.


4. Line the blade up with the up/down drum and insert the six (6) screws.



5. Open up a beer. You deserve it.



That’s it. Anyone can do it.

You’re probably asking yourself “Where can I get one of those new Hobie rudder blades?â€

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OEX Oceanside - Authorized Hobie Dealer
Kayak Fishing Specialists

www.oexoceanside.com

great advice! We've found the same thing out here locally as well. Like always the best place to buy Hobie parts if from your local dealer which can be found here

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Brad Stephens
[email protected]
(866) 786-5266 <--- Advice HOTline
http://www.sunjammers.com
www.facebook.com/sunjammers

... GREAT choice of BEER ! ! ..........................................

.... changed my rudder a while back best thing I did .. other than buying the OUTBACK ...

... oh yea she also sports ... ST FINNS !

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Don't want to hear about it
Every single one's got a story to tell
Everyone knows about it


Oscar

So any problems with the new rudders and bringing them up and down? I read about a retrofit for the AI rudder, but would guess there's a lot more going on that just swapping out a rudder causing the need for a new mechanism.

I wouldn't mind trying out the sailing rudder on my outback as well. That might be what I need to convince my wife I need the sailing package to go with it.

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Isaac

I haven't noticed any difference in the up/down action since installing the new rudder, but I did retie and tighten my left/right lines to ensure proper steering action.

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OEX Oceanside - Authorized Hobie Dealer
Kayak Fishing Specialists

www.oexoceanside.com

Awesome. I am definitely going to check my local dealer and see if he has one in stock. I am pretty sure I saw one in the display case. Thanks for the heads up.

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Isaac

Ive had the sailing rudder for a while too. Didnt re-tie the lines. I gotta take a look at that.

What did happen is that in lifting the rudder, there is a delay. I guess the bungees inside takes time to load up and lift the rudder. No biggie. It still comes up.

I bought the rudder to alleviate the constant thumbing of the tiller on the revolution. The stock rudder requires me to have on hand on the tiller almost 100%. The sailing rudder doesnt stop it, but reduces course corrections by at least 80%. Almost true hands free kayaking

/bing

Put one on last year and love it. Better turning radius and no problem lifting the rudder.

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Dwbuzzard

I just put one on my 06 Adventure. Amazing difference controlling my position while drifting. I do have to wiggle my steering control to bring it up.

Originally posted on BWE on 4/8/08 to steamroll's suggestion

Added and tested out the sailing rudder
OMG
What a difference ?
Really turns on a dime
Much smaller turning radius


Never wouda thought it would work since its for sailing

Thanks for the great suggestion
MikeG

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Hobie Mirage Revolution
Ocean Kayak Prowler 13
- Look ma no hands

I installed sailing rudder yesterday on my 08 Outback. When I got my speed up, the pressure on the rudder made it kind of loose, not allowing me to turn right..... it would only go left. I could raise the rudder and lower it again and it would work correctly, but only until I got my speed up again and the same would happen again. Anyone experience anything similar?

Thanks,

Bay Dog

Hi Bay Dog,

My suggestion is to check your control lines at the rudder. When I first put my sailing rudder on I had to tighten mine up to get it to turn right. I tightened them so there is no slack or free play. Been working great for a year now. Haven't adjusted them since. It pulls up fine also.

Hope this helps.

Bruce

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Everything before 60 is just a rehearsal!

Thanks. I'll try tighting. Which lines do I tighten and exactly how do I do it?

Bay Dog,

Find the two lines that turn the rudder right & left at the rudder itself. Center the rudder handle and untie the line to each side,one at a time, pull it snug and re-tie. You will want to check so they are not over tightened. Turn the handle to the left and check the rudder to see if it is all the way left. Do the same to the right. I do not have any slack in my lines. Its kind of a trial & error.

I do find that my Revo will turn tighter to the left than the right but it isn't buy much.

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Everything before 60 is just a rehearsal!

Thanks for posting this Steamroll. When I got my new Adventure a few months ago, I added the big rudder and it's been really nice. I troll a ton and this rudder has so much surface area I can even steer going downwind w/o pedaling. It's taken a lot of frustration out of those situations.

Z

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