I've had either 4 cable failures since I started kayaking in 2003; the most recent being July of 2019. In my experience every cable snapped where the cable was crimped into the eye where it attaches to the rudder. Kind of makes since as the cable can kink there and also hold some saltwater. My sister had one snap at the swage crimp up by the sliding foot brace. Again, that would be a spot where the wire could kink and also hold water within the crimp.ben_beyer wrote:Question on the rudder cables. What do I need to do to prevent corrosion?
When they snap is like Russian Roulette. If you're astute you can potentially catch it before it fully snaps as you'll see individual strands of the cable start snapping off. I noticed this prior to the trip in July 2019, but gambled it would hold for the two days......... it didn't. I normally travel with a second set of cables for this exact situation, but I forget to grab my extra parts tote before making my way to the coast.
On my 2003 Wilderness Systems The Ride one of the cables is the original from when I purchased the kayak, the other was replaced around 2010. The other three snapped cables were on my 2007 Perception Search 15, which makes sense due it spending all it's time in saltwater.
When the cable snapped in July 2019 on my Search 15 I replaced the cables with Hobie Rudder Spectra Line. Works like a charm and should last for many worry free years. Cheaper too.