One day while backing my Hobie16 into its parking spot one of the fiberglass rudders caught on the telephone pole next to the parking spot. The rudder did not break but it bent. The last 5-6 inches of the rudder has a very slight bend. Will this through the boat out of tune? Does anyone know how to straighten a bent rudder?
Correction, I believe the rudder is the stock rudder not fiberglass.
Well, if it is the standard rudder, it is for shure not bent because of the telephone thingy but because it is of a very bendable material. Sailing with these rudders is tough as they bend and twist causing a lot of weather helm. If you are considering serious regatta sailing invest some bucks and buy EPO rudders of better Carbon Fibre ones.
Hope this helps.
Fritz
sorry but what is the rudder made out of if its not glass? This realy depends on how much its bent but there is a bit tricky way of doing it but its not realy recomended because no one has the guts to do it. (I have done this on a mates boat because he was low on money and couldn't get money for new rudder blades before the nationals. This is what you can do but just be wairy you might stuff them up even more:
1: put the rudder blade in a vice wit the bent in the middle
2: Put a high powered heater on the spot where its bent
3: Gently and gradualy close the vice (this might take hours but worth it if done well, try to close it a bit one hour then go back and do a bit again)
Well I highly suggest the EPO rudders(I have them) but if you dont have the money try this or some thing else. Well what ever you do have fun sailing.
Jules