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How to Put a Rudder on a Sunfish

Sunfish sailboats are single passenger sailing dinghies with low-aspect ratio sails. A detachable fiberglass and aluminum rudder lets the operator control the direction of the boat while it is in the water. The rudder must be removed or turned upward when one is launching and docking the sailboat to avoid damaging the rudder during land transportation. A spring-loaded pintle pin holds the rudder and tiller handle in place for easy attachment and removal.

Things You'll Need

Socket wrench
Two (2) 1/4-inch by 0.031-inch nylon washers
Tiller bolt

Instructions

- 1
  Place the nylon washers into the depression on either side of the rudder.
- 2
  Align the hole at the end of the tiller arm with the nylon washers. Make sure the counter of the tiller bar aligns with the contour of the rudder cheek.
- 3
  Screw the tiller bolt through the tiller arm, washers and rudder to attach the tiller arm to the rudder.
- 4
  Align the spring-loaded pintle pin with the supports on the rudder cheek. Press the top of the pintle pin to compress the spring and slide the rudder supports onto the pin.
- 5
  Release the pintle pin to lock the rudder into place.

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