Windpilot PACIFIC LIGHT, Manual

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5.6 THE RUDDER BLADE IS VIBRATING
• Adjust the position of the pendulum rudder blade
440 in rudder fork 430.
• The vibrations should die down if you move the
rudder blade aft very slightly.
• CAUTION: do not overtighten bolt 435 (overload
protection).
6.0 REPAIRS
• The system may be disassembled and
reassembled using the component drawings.
• If cast components suffer collision damage and
replacements cannot easily be obtained, it may
be possible to repair them. Cast aluminium
components can be welded back together quite
easily if the faces to be joined are first heated
thoroughly for a few minutes with an open welding
torch flame. The actual welding procedure should
only be attempted with proper aluminium welding
equipment.
• 6 mm marine plywood is ideal for making
replacement windvanes (see “Adjusting the
Windvane for Different Wind Strengths” in the
Sailing with Your WINDPILOT section.
• The pendulum rudder blade may be replaced with a
simple wooden plank (approx. 120 x 900 x 20 mm).
Even a completely unprofiled piece of wood will
work on a temporary basis.
• CAUTION: the pendulum rudder needs a balance
proportion of around 20%, which means that 20%
of the rudder area most be located in front of the
rudder shaft. If necessary try turning the blade
around. The windvane should always control the
pendulum rudder blade and not the other way
around. Check this by lowering the pendulum arm
300 into the water. If it immediately swings out to
one side and forces the windvane to do the same,
there is too much rudder blade in front of the shaft.
• Some bearing play may develop in pendulum axle
bolt 310. This is not a problem and will not impair
the steering performance of the system.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to
contact us at
Headquarter Hamburg Germany
tel. +49 40 6525244
fax. +49 40686515
email: peter@windpilot.com
www.windpilot.com
and we’ll do everything we can to help!