The Nacra rudder system is very straight forward. A pull down line, attached to the rudder, is used to pull the rudders down. The line is then locked in the Pivmatic cleat. A shock chord installed inside the tiller tube holds the rudders up when the pull down line is released from the cleat. This works fine as long as the shock chords are relatively new. As soon as they begin to weaken and stretch, the rudders no longer stay up. You can install new shock chords and keep the original system or you can make the following modifications.

 
A stainless.steel eyebolt is mounted at the end of the tiller tube.            Pull up line rudder attachment. Note eye bolt.
White line pulls rudder down. Black line pulls rudder up.                     A hangman's knot works better than a bowline.

Tools:  electric drill, 3/16 drill bit, wrenches, ruler

Instructions:  Mount the 3/16 inch s.s.. eye bolt as follows:

Remove the shock chords from the rudders and from the inside of the tiller tubes.  Drill a 3/16 inch hole completely through the tiller tube. Locate the hole about 1/2 inch from the end of the tiller tube nearest the rudder. Drill the hole dead center and perpendicular to the top and bottom of the tiller tube. Remember, drill through the top and bottom of the tube. Do not drill into the rudder!

Place the regular nut and lock washer on the eyebolt, then insert the eye bolt into the hole in the top of the tiller. Attach the lock nut to the eye bolt inside the tube. Then adjust the regular nut and lock nut so that the bottom of the eyebolt extends into the hole in the bottom of the tiller tube. Do not allow the eye bolt to extend through the bottom of the tiller tube. If it does it will hit the top of the rudder when the rudder is in the lock down position. Make sure you secure the nuts so that they are tight and will not allow the eye bolt to rotate.

Secure one end of the new pull up line to the rudder with a very tight bowline. The tighter you can get the rope against the trailing edge of the rudder the better. Lead the line through the stainless steel eyebolt mounted at the end of the tiller tube. Now lead it through the Pivmatic cleat right along side of the lock down rope. (see pictures above) You can use smaller diameter line for the pull down line since it is easier to pull the rudder down due to the fact that you are not pulling against the shock chord. Just make sure it holds in the cleat.

If you use an additional cleat.

A.  Secure the cleat to the tiller bar by means of the pin on which the Pivmatic rotates.
B.  Secure the other end of the cleat to the tiller by running the end of the pull up line through the mounting hole in the rear of the clamcleat and securing this to the tiller bar with a few half hitches.
C.  Run the other end of the pull up line through the pulley and then through the additional clamcleat. 

A.  Attach the fixed end of the pull up line to the pin that secures the Pivmatic. (blue line #3)
B.  Place a large s.s. washer on the pin to help secure the line. I used a hangman's knot. (#3)
C.  Now lead the pull up line (blue line) through the pulley (#2) and through the Pivmatic.
D.  Secure the blue pull up line for trailering. (#4)

You can also use the pull up system to secure the rudders, assuming you don't remove them, when trailering. Make sure that you tie the excess pull up/down line around the tiller tube after the rudder is locked in the up position. This will prevent the rudders from unlocking.

If you have questions, comments, or suggestions e mail LICSA