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Rudder Connect bar ends

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edchris177
Petty Officer
Petty Officer
Posts: 28
Joined: Sat Jul 29, 2017 11:39 am

Rudder Connect bar ends

Post by edchris177 »

So, with a stiff breeze today, I launched my D15.
I’m in Canada, on a 700 sq km lake.
I hit some semi submerged driftwood, & popped a rudder. When I went to lock it back down, the plastic tiller tie end snapped, and of course it was to rudder I really needed to get back in a good blow.(there are no rescue boats ).
Made it back, though in the heavier gusts I had to drop main sheet as the upwind rudder didn’t have the authority to maintain course. The 10km back home went relatively well.
I see I can order the parts from Windsport, & they have shipped parts to Canada for me previously.
It looks like a single river to secure the bar end.
Is this a special rivet, or can I just use any aluminum pop rivet?
What length & diameter is it?
My other Cats, (Hobie 18, Nacra 5.0 & 5.7), all use an aluminum end cap. I can have my neighbor,(owns a tool& die shop), make one.
Any advantage to that…or is this a one time deal, due to sailing a 1980 something boat?
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Bob Carter
Admiral of the Fleet
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Joined: Fri Dec 15, 2006 8:52 pm

Re: Rudder Connect bar ends

Post by Bob Carter »

Why not just buy the rivet from Windsport at the same time as the conbar end?
edchris177
Petty Officer
Petty Officer
Posts: 28
Joined: Sat Jul 29, 2017 11:39 am

Re: Rudder Connect bar ends

Post by edchris177 »

That’s what I ended up doing, (as no one answered my question), along with an end cap as I only have one new spare & the originals are getting pretty weather beaten.
I asked about rivets as we have a pretty well equipped mechanics shop, haven’t sent any of a 16 vehicle fleet to a commercial garage in over 15 years.
I have a good supply of pop rivets, along with a serious supply of TSO aviation rivets & pneumatic guns to set them.
I see no reason to purchase extra bits when my shop probably has them sitting on the shelf.
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