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Mine have the bend in them but otherwise seem to be holding up. Is it worth upgrading to the heavier ones?
Do plan on maybe an extended trip to the Bahamas.
Thanks
Ix

Yes, my 2011 had the small ones.
with the heavier it is much better!

I have a 2011 also. I’ll pick a set up. Thanks.

Ix

Can't hurt. We keep a spare pair in the bilge and they truly came in handy in the Bahamas. One morning, the water was so incredibly transparent, that we forgot to keep a keen eye on the depth. At some point, while sailing serenely, the boat got stuck in the shallows and ended up teetering on three points: the centerboard and the two rudders. All of a sudden it became apparent that the current was pretty strong. By the time I jumped into the waist-deep water and sliced the rudders' ropes (we could not pull them up by hand anymore), one of the aluminum brackets was already bent and cracked. Luckily we had a spare and we replaced it later in the day. No biggie

March wrote: ↑Wed Jan 29, 2025 2:19 pmLuckily we had a spare and we replaced it later in the day. No biggie

How difficult is it to replace the brackets? Can it be done in the water?

I don’t think it would be possible for me to do
It alone. But if I had the part at least that’s something. I could always try to enlist other cruisers assistance. Re: Gin Clear water. Oh how I miss that!! Been too too long.

Ix

Ixneigh wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 5:28 am I don’t think it would be possible for me to do
It alone. But if I had the part at least that’s something. I could always try to enlist other cruisers assistance. Re: Gin Clear water. Oh how I miss that!! Been too too long.

Ix

Plus, the bracket bolts are well below the waterline. So, it will be exciting to do in the water on an M. Not sure about the X.

OG 26X aluminum rudder brackets were above the water line, everything transom-mounted was at the deck's edge;
rudder bracket : ladder pivot : motor bracket : valve handle : rudder bracket

I think that’s better than the M…

You have to do it on the tide with the M. You have to unbolt the lower gudgions, 4 bolts. Impossible to do alone. Plus reseal with marine sealant.

Ix

At the beginning of the 2024 season, my son unbolted the "wrong" safety pin on the rudder brackets. After launching, we soon learned the rudders would not go down. I didn't want to pull the boat, so switching the bolts IN WATER was a challenge.

The X brackets do seem smarter and above the waterline.

This thread reminded me of Madd Mike.

For awhile, he was thinking about taking Xenons Arrow across the Pacific for a trip to Hawaii. He mentioned that the rudders would need some reinforcements

Chinook has posted this: " I remember some of his last posts were talking about trying to sail his boat out to Hawaii, but I don't think he ever made that trip. While he was active on this site, it was always fascinating to read his posts."
.

If memory serves, the aluminum brackets that cracked and bent were simply held in place by a vertical axle. We didn't have to remove the plate that goes against the fiberglass wall. That was still in good condition. It could be done easily in waist-deep water. Not hard at all.

(It was definitely easier than removing the centerboard while on the water, in order to clamp it back together, having split it by hitting a rock that lurked unexpectedly in the middle of the Nassau canal, on an earlier occasion)

March wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 8:54 am If memory serves, the aluminum brackets that cracked and bent were simply held in place by a vertical axle. We didn't have to remove the plate that goes against the fiberglass wall. That was still in good condition. It could be done easily in waist-deep water. Not hard at all.

(It was definitely easier than removing the centerboard while on the water, in order to clamp it back together, having split it by hitting a rock that lurked unexpectedly in the middle of the Nassau canal, on an earlier occasion)

U talk about ?!

That is correct. It's an X. The aluminum brackets look like those in Tuxonpup's pics