Rudder | Trial Installation

With work on the upper hull largely complete, I turned my attention to trial fitting various components.

This was in readiness for moving the boat outside onto her trailer and getting her ready for a survey.

I didn't want any surprises once she was already committed to staying out in the elements yet again.

The first such test was a trial fit of the rudder, which was recently finished and ready for installation.

So I found a cardboard box of exactly the right height and balanced the rudder on top while I aligned the pivot eyes and slid the pivot rod into place, and fitted the lower cotter clip to retain it safely.

Here it is in place.

And here is the top of the pivot rod, showing the upper cotter clip inserted through the hole drilled in the rod.

Next the tiller was slotted into place. Here it is.

The tiller was securely held in place with a 8mm clevis pin and a circlip, like this.

That's looking good. Here is a view of the fully installed rudder, ready for action.

That feels like progress!