Hi Terry

Fellow Wanderer Sailors

While talking with a Gull owner yesterday (Gull is essentially a smaller Wanderer) we were comparing similarities of layout and fitments between his Gull and my Wanderer.
The Gull sailor mentioned he was having difficulties understanding how his rudder controls he was getting his rudder frequently kicking up.
On comparing our rudders we noted that they were of identical 'IYE' make / design on our Anglo Marine boats. Perhaps his downhaul comprised 100% Bungy, I am not entirely sure on this point.
It became obvious that our understanding of how this design is supposed to work differed and hence this post.

Below I define what I believe the function of the two control lines and welcome any comments/corrections etc from others as well as common reasons for his rudder kicking up etc:-

1. Both rudder control lines (Uphaul & Downhaul) enter the aluminium housing at its forward facing edge and initially pass over the top of a fixed 'pivot pin' located beneath the tiller slide rail. This is not to be confused with the rudder's main Pivot Bolt;

2. After leaving the 'Pivot Pin' the Uphaul line is routed around the underside of a spring-loaded Nylon roller which tracks along the top radiused edge of the blade the line is then terminated at the blade's trailing edge;

3. This Uphaul line comprises a single continuous line of ~5mm thickness which when pulled in raises the rudder blade to a near horizontal position and can be cleated off, in the raised position, using the tiller mounted cleat;
?
4. The second line, the 'Downhaul', is comprised of two conjoined sections - line and ~6mm bungy and when pulled lowers the rudder blade (assuming the uphaul is not currently cleated) and the Bungy is hooked around a cleat on the tiller shaft..
??? This Line is attached to the blade's leading edge and when fully lowered the blade is 'locked' in position by the combined tension of the spring-loaded Nylon roller engaging in the 'notch' in the top of the blade and the tensioned bungy;

5. Should the rudder strike an underwater obstruction when fully down and 'locked' then the Bungy element of the downhaul, working with the spring roller will allow the rudder blade to partially or fully raise the rudder to protect it.

I have probably not used the correct terms in my descriptions above but hopefully the function of each rudder line, as I understand it, is relatively clear.

Many thanks

Terry Pullen
W863 Anglo Marine MD Conversion