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1.5.8 THE PENDULUM RUDDER
1.5.8.1 MOUNTING THE RUDDER BLADE
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The blade should be mounted with the rounded edge facing forward and the sharp
edge facing aft.
1.5.8.2 POSITIONING THE RUDDER BLADE
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The pendulum rudder blade must be angled down and aft exactly in line with the
rudder shaft, otherwise the balance will be off.
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Adjusting the rudder blade aft reduces the force generated (by reducing the
balance proportion).
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Adjusting the rudder blade forward increases the balance proportion excessively,
with the result that the rudder controls the windvane instead of the other way
around.
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Both the adjustments described impair the performance of the system and make
steering problems inevitable.
1.5.8.3 OVERLOAD PROTECTION
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Mounting bolt 435 for the rudder blade 440 should be tightened gently so that the
rudder blade can still swing up if it strikes something below the water.
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The rudder blade is retained in the shaft fork by friction only.
1.5.8.4 PENDULUM RUDDER LIFT-UP
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Tie one end of the red lift-up line through ring 431 and secure the other end to the
pushpit.
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Raise the pendulum rudder, take the red line once around the windvane shaft 140
and rudder shaft 420 and tie it back to the pushpit.
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It is not possible to raise the pendulum rudder out of the water while the boat is
moving as the resistance is generally too high. The boat must be almost stationary
before lift-up becomes possible.
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The pendulum rudder may be dropped back into the operating position at any
time.
1.5.9 SETTING THE MAIN RUDDER
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You must have a reliable method of locking the main rudder in position if the
PACIFIC PLUS is to perform properly. The lever fitted on many wheel steering
systems is often insufficient, being designed to hold the rudder still when the boat
is on its moorings rather than to resist the dynamic forces encountered at sea. If
the lock allows the main rudder to wander while the PACIFIC PLUS is steering,
the boat will veer unpredictably and effective self-steering will be lost.
1.5.9.1 MECHANICAL WHEEL STEERING
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Modern wheel steering systems (e.g. Whitlock) often have a disc brake type
locking system, which secures the rudder much more reliably than a simple
clamping device.
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Whatever method you use to lock the main rudder, it should be easily accessible
and easy to adjust - as conditions change you will need to fine trim the rudder
position to maintain optimal self-steering.
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CAUTION: make sure your rudder lock can be disengaged quickly in an
emergency!