Homemade Rudder

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Elite13
Posts: 761
Joined: Tue Oct 23, 2007 4:23 pm
Location: Laporte, Texas

Homemade Rudder

Post by Elite13 »

Im thinking about putting a rudder on my Cobra Navigator. I havent seen one on this kayak before. Im going to be building homemade. Any ideas or pics of rudders you guys have built
sbfirekid
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri Apr 01, 2011 9:26 pm
Location: San Antonio

Re: Homemade Rudder

Post by sbfirekid »

I am looking to do the same on my fish n dive let me know if you find something that works and I will do the same
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Texas80
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Location: Bayside, TX./Copano Bay

Re: Homemade Rudder

Post by Texas80 »

Here is a few pics of mine I made , but its on a different kayak (Pescador). It steers, raises, and lowers , just like a factory rudder. If you have any questions PM me.
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rudder3.jpg
rudder3.jpg (73.05 KiB) Viewed 3885 times
rudder2.jpg
rudder2.jpg (68.03 KiB) Viewed 3885 times
rudder1.jpg
rudder1.jpg (68.77 KiB) Viewed 3885 times
Alsatian
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Re: Homemade Rudder

Post by Alsatian »

Texas80 wrote:Here is a few pics of mine I made , but its on a different kayak (Pescador). It steers, raises, and lowers , just like a factory rudder. If you have any questions PM me.
Looks good. Do you have plans that you can send me?
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trouttracker
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Location: Lake Jackson , TX. ACK Wilderness Systems Ambassador

Re: Homemade Rudder

Post by trouttracker »

I would like to get a set of plans also
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Texas80
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Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009 1:47 pm
Location: Bayside, TX./Copano Bay

Re: Homemade Rudder

Post by Texas80 »

I dont really have a set of plans , I just got a couple of pics from the internet , then just started coming up with what would work (trial and error). I could give you some basic deminsions , but it may not work for your yak.
Alsatian
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Re: Homemade Rudder

Post by Alsatian »

I have the same yak.
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hardyf
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Re: Homemade Rudder

Post by hardyf »

What kind of material did you make that with? It looks great and just what I had in mind, but I am stumped on the material side?

Tks
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Texas80
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Location: Bayside, TX./Copano Bay

Re: Homemade Rudder

Post by Texas80 »

hardyf wrote:What kind of material did you make that with? It looks great and just what I had in mind, but I am stumped on the material side?

Tks
Its all made from Aluminum that I cut out with jigsaw , with stainless hardware. If you need any more info Pm me I'll be happy to help.
yellorover
Posts: 75
Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2011 3:32 pm

Re: Homemade Rudder

Post by yellorover »

Texas80 wrote:
hardyf wrote:What kind of material did you make that with? It looks great and just what I had in mind, but I am stumped on the material side?

Tks
Its all made from Aluminum that I cut out with jigsaw , with stainless hardware. If you need any more info Pm me I'll be happy to help.
Can you send me some info ? I am new here and guess newbs can not send pms. I just picked up my new Majic 14.5 and have started rigging it up.

thanks for the help
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Iyakalot
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Joined: Fri May 20, 2011 4:35 am
Location: Tomball- 115 miles to Rollover

Re: Homemade Rudder

Post by Iyakalot »

Wow, Texas80. I liked my rudder system a lot better before I saw yours. Mine definitely needs at least a paint job. You might incorporate a couple ideas from my system into yours. Here's a pic in the up position.
PICT0002.JPG
I use a bungie cord to keep it in the up position until I want it down. Then it only takes the movement of one cord to lower the unit, as follows:
PICT0006.JPG
Another idea incorporated was the use of a "stiff" steering system. I used fiberglass tent poles cut to size and placed on ONE SIDE ONLY of the pivot. Then a stiff rod attached to a pulley system on one side of the kayak to turn it both ways.
PICT0010.JPG
The advantage of the stiff steering system is the small pulley system required. I opted for a larger rudder for the addition of a small sail. I used the rudder in the bay and in the Gulf a short distance and it worked great with a large umbrella. The rudder also helped keep me pointed in the desired direction when anchored. I broke the bottom of the rudder off loading it onto the Jeep.
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