Clearance on rudder fixation

S

Siroco

New Member
Dear all,

I am sailing on a rather old Laser and have noticed that there is rather a lot of clearance between the metal pivot on the rudder and the lower fixation on the boat carcass (see attached picture). I am wondering whether this is OK or whether it the metal pivot should sit tight in the fixation. In my case the rudder can move left to right about 3-5 mm.

Thanks for any recommendations
Siroco
 

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Siroco said:
Dear all,

I am sailing on a rather old Laser and have noticed that there is rather a lot of clearance between the metal pivot on the rudder and the lower fixation on the boat carcass (see attached picture). I am wondering whether this is OK or whether it the metal pivot should sit tight in the fixation. In my case the rudder can move left to right about 3-5 mm.

Thanks for any recommendations
Siroco
Click to expand...

The pivot is called a pintle and it sits in a gudgeon. The gudgeon is attached to the hull. The pintle should sit snugly in the gudgeon. There definitely should not be 3 to 5 mm of play. Is the gudgeon bent? Maybe you can bend it back into shape, or buy a new one.
 
I posted it at the same time you did

and I was, hoping that someone like you would clear up what he was saying, so that other people could help, thanks for clearing up what he said Merrily! :)
 
Ross B said:
I posted it at the same time you did

and I was, hoping that someone like you would clear up what he was saying, so that other people could help, thanks for clearing up what he said Merrily! :)
Click to expand...

Oh I get it now. Sorry for being surly.
 
Dear Merrily,
dear Ross,

thanks for your quick replies. And thanks Merrily for providing the right translation. I am not really familiar with these terms in English as I am not a native English speaker. :rolleyes:
You are right that the gudgeon has been bent (probably during transport from Switzerland to Kyrgyzstan). I'll try to fix it or get a new one from Europe.

Thanks to you and good wind!
Siroco
 
man I had to look up Kyrgyzstan!! thats a looooooooooooong way from Switzerland! is that where your from? I would be really suprised if you had to buy one outside of Switzerland, and couldn't find one there......w/e

if your going to replace your gudgeon's, go with the plastic ones (even though they are the only ones available)
 
yes it is indeed a long way. However, there are very very few sailing boats on Yssykkul Lake. What you find most is the optimist but hardly any laser.
If you want to buy something here, you pay a lot and all the material is really really worn out. As I had a friend who is importing cars from Germany it was no problem to put the boat on top of a car and drive it through Finland, Russia and Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan..... and now my boat's named "Fitzcarraldo" (you probably know the film of Klaus Kinsky where they pull a steam boat over a tropical mountain)
 
Siroco said:
and now my boat's named "Fitzcarraldo" (you probably know the film of Klaus Kinsky where they pull a steam boat over a tropical mountain)
Click to expand...

I'll take your word for it.....

but good on ya for getting a boat, and getting out there!
 
Siroco,
I am from GER. the "metal "fixation" (gudgeon) probably is worm out. and the metall pivot also, maybe.
If you have a possibility to get goods from GER to KIR I would try to get those Laserparts for you and post them to your friends at GER.

Ciao
LuooserLu

@ Ross B
If you have somethig useful to say here at TLF okay, then let it out. If not, it would be very kind of you, if you more care for your primary school or your candidateship of the ILCA etc.pp, but do not enter threads here and give comments that are out of topic, Thank you.
 
Dear LooserLu,

thanks a lot for your offer to help getting the spare parts. For the time being I am relying on my Swiss dealer for Laser spare parts. However, if suddenly needed, I would appreciate to come back to your offer.

Regards,
Siroco
 
LooserLu said:
Siroco,


@ Ross B
If you have somethig useful to say here at TLF okay, then let it out. If not, it would be very kind of you, if you more care for your primary school or your candidateship of the ILCA etc.pp, but do not enter threads here and give comments that are out of topic, Thank you.
Click to expand...

I hate to be rude, but that was not necessary, I had valid talking points
 
off topic...
did you know that Mick Jagger was originally cast in Fitzcaraldo?
It didn't work out.

on topic...
new replacement gudgeons are plastic & $7.70 US each. these should do the trick.

best of luck sailing there!
 
Ross B said:
I really have no idea what your saying
Click to expand...

Rossums, dear, this is what Ludders Liebchen is talking about. You told Merrily that you were waiting for someone to come along and translate. Why didn't you just wait? You have so many toss off comments. You know so much about Lasers and sailing, but throwing out constant comments is tiring. It cheapens what you have to say. Be like Ribecca and hold back for the important stuff. Don't you think I'd like to tell ALL the men that I love them, all the time?
 
Geez, what was this thread about again? Sloppy '73 metal brackets? Nice way to welcome new friends.

Go plastic, new, as metal replacements aren't available anywhere, and it was decided by Laser Inc. or whomever, in '74 to go to cheap plastic. You'll end up with 2 holes each showing. But having 4 bolts, going thru the treated plywood backing, in 4 new holes will be very nice and strong. Hopefully this will make it seem stiff and tight also.

And, please, search all the mast step issues discussed herein. That's a very old boat, and suspect. But it could be made to last another 20 years with a thourough review of the info on the normally useful forum.

Al
 
Please stay on topic.

At least our new member is getting plenty of info on rudder pintles and gudgeons and where to acquire them. Welcome!
 
When I got my laser the gudgeons were bent so askew that the pintles would not both go in at the same time. I bent them back into shape but the fittings were so loose and the threading so worn I ended up having to supplement the bolt locations with a couple of table spoons of epoxy. Real bodgy sounding job but it has been rock solid.

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary : Fixation
Main Entry: fix·a·tion
Pronunciation: fik-'sA-sh&n
Function: noun
: the act, process, or result of fixing, fixating , or becoming fixated : as
(A) : a persistent concentration of libidinal energies upon objects characteristic of psychosexual stages of development preceding the genital stage
(B) : stereotyped behavior (as in response to frustration
(C) : an obsessive or unhealthy preoccupation or attachment
 
I have a pair of brand new laser gudgeons (no charge). PM me if you want them. Looks like it will take about 10 days for them to get to you though.
 
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