kick-up rudder question

[markfitz]

One other problem we had with our weekender is that we had modified the boat to take a tiller, and as such had no through path for the rope that is supposed to keep the rudder in the up or down position. What we ended up doing was attaching a rope to haul it up, but then in order to get it to not float, we had to push it down into the water and put a pin in.  Not really knowing what we were doing, we didn't even think that if we hit something it would rip the back of the boat off -- so we want to modify that, obviously.  I saw a thread here http://www.messing-about.com/forums/index.php?topic=3934.0 about a lead-weighted kick up rudder, which looked like it would be pretty easy to modify our existing rudder to use -- but then read this on Chuck's more  recent thread "The kickup feature can be fixed easily with a bungee or a down haul and a "break away" cleat. This will keep the board down, yet let it come up when it hits something."

I'm assuming the breakaway cleat is one of these:  http://www.duckworksbbs.com/hardware/cleats/sd002570/index.htm  but I think that means I have to figure out a way to use a rope to pull the rudder into the down position, which I really don't currently have.  I originally figured a shear pin would work, but I have no idea what I should buy for a rudder like the one on the weekender.  Is one way better than the other?  

[chuckpierce]

I have one of those cleats on the new rudder I built this winter for our P19 and it works like a champ. I can sail up to the beach with one hand on the tiller and one hand cranking up the keel and the rudder takes care of itself. Great piece! You can see it on the underside of the tiller-

[markfitz]

Yeah, I saw that --- nice.  But with the "sort of stock" rudder box we have (ours is basically solid) we don't have any way to bring that rope up underneath the tiller.  That's why I was trying to figure out some other way...

[PAR]

It would be possible to bring a down haul up through the pintles of your Weekender's rudderbox. Naturally the lanyard needs to attach to the rudder blade, forward of the pivot bolt. As far forward as possible for best leverage. A bungee cord is often employed in this role, continuously pulling the blade down. Yes, the link you've provided is to the auto release cleat.

[markfitz]

It would be possible to bring a down haul up through the pintles of your Weekender's rudderbox. Naturally the lanyard needs to attach to the rudder blade, forward of the pivot bolt. As far forward as possible for best leverage. A bungee cord is often employed in this role, continuously pulling the blade down. Yes, the link you've provided is to the auto release cleat.

Hi Par, I can't quite picture that....Unless you mean we'd need to drill a hole and then route a channel or something up underneath the pintles?  We used actual store-bought pintles and gudgeons so maybe that's why I'm having trouble picturing it?