left & right rudders

This is my first season, and I must have been out 30 times in the last two months. The day before yesterday, thanks to this site, I learned that my rudders were reversed and today I switched them.
Man what a difference. It was like sailing a totally different boat. Helm is neutral or slightly weather. Before one side was weather and the other was lee. I had some pretty good wind and couldn't believe how easy it was to steer and how responsive it was.
BTW today was my third day in the trap, and I flew a hull for the first time (only a few inches, but it was enough) How come no one has mentioned that awesome feeling of when you are sheeting in and you feel yourself lifting up into the air.

The owner of my boat called tonight. She lives up on hill overlooking the lake. She said "What did you do to my boat? I've never seen it go so fast!"
How cool is that

I'm new too. How do you tell which rudder is right vs left ?

The upper casting tells you. The tiller arms point inboard at a slight angle, so sight from straight aft of the rudder blade and view the angle of the tiller arm. Hang the rudders so the tiller arms are both angled inboard slightly.

The tiller crossbar is shorter than the distance between the rudder blades. This is to create "Ackerman" or allow the rudder on the inside of a turn to turn sharper than the outboard rudder.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

are the rudder blades themselves symmetrical, and the upper castings are the only thing that is left + right? If the the blades aren't, is there a way to tell them apart?

The rudder blades and lower castings are symmetrical. The upper castings are the only parts that are port/starboard. Set them up so the tiller arms point inward.

The first time I sailed a Hobie sixteen I had the rudders backwards. I could see that the rudders had significant toe-in. I thought my tiller bar was too short and was looking for a way to lengthen it.

After checking on this forum, the old-timers straightened me out. I love this forum.

_________________
1979 Hobie (sold)
1983 Hobie 16 Hawiian Sunset (sold)
1981 Hobie 16 Tequilla Sunrise - still own
2008 Hobie 16 (currently sailing the crap out of this boat)
1977 Super Sunfish
Founding member of the "San Dimas Yacht Club"
John

So will rolling some red electrical tape on the port side of the tiller cross bar and green electrical tape on the starboard side. It also helps me in races quickly and accurately know which tack I'm on.