I broke a rudder cable today on my 2 month old Scorpius xs. I repaired it with my stand by stainless steel airplane cable when I got home, not sure about spectra...it snapped clean, no abrasions, about 1/2 inch above the connection at the rudder end. It was also a pain to get to with the tiny opening above the hardware...it would have been really hard to do in the water had I not been able to limp it in and borrow a cell phone for a pick up. Anybody have any on the water repair ideas for the xs cable system?
Zumapop
Submitted by zumapop on Sun, 07/22/2012 - 2:06pm
Is this a China XS or a custom canoe built on Maui? CAll Outrigger ZOne (Mike Giblin) if CHina built or KAiWaa if custom built. Sounds from your description it is China bult as the steering T is hidden. On the Custom built, the Steering T is exposed and if you have a piece of line you can connect it from the T to the footpeddle as a temorary fix to get you home. Try different methods before you have a problem so you will know how it works.
Sun, 07/22/2012 - 3:38pm
A centered pad eye forward with loop of bunji on it works good too. Only need the one working cable to get home.
aloha,
pog
Sun, 07/22/2012 - 9:17pm
Sounds like a China built xs, I have one too and am a little sketchy on the spectra steering cable/line.
Does anyone know how often spectra should be replaced? It's hard to tell wear on spectra. Thinking about just swapping out for cable lines for wedded safety
Wed, 07/25/2012 - 12:03pm
The spectra cord that was used in the Hurricanes were non-braided lines that was actually looped and had a chafing tube to protect it at the point of entry/exit at both the rudder end and pedal end. It had a positive and negative though in that it protects the spectra from wear, but it also can become the problem when the tubing breaks or gets crimped and won't slide through the cable tube properly.
The new style spectra cord on the XM/XS doesn't seem to have any chafing tube or sheath for protection and that may be the problem in the wearing down of the cord during use to a point of failure due to heat generated from possible friction. It's possible to prevent heat from friction by wetting the cord when you set in the water before actually using it. But then again, it might not be the cause.
When a friend of mine got his China XM I mentioned it to him to call and ask the Kai Wa'a Rep he bought it from about getting an extra set of spectra cables for it "just in case" so he'd have it readily available. He was told it wouldn't be necessary as it won't break so easily. His has the older style spectra with the chafing tube though and not the current braided cord style.
Below is what the openings look like at the rudder end on the China XM/XS (and the Hurricanes). The picture was taken of an XM at Island Paddler and the rudder was not yet installed.
Wed, 07/25/2012 - 11:48pm
There are a 100's of China XS and XM out there with few having a cable problem but problems in any case can occur and are not fun. What several people who use their China Xm's or XS's in rough conditions have done is change to Stainless 1X19 wire as there is less chafing with that type of wire. In the process they carefully cut out the cover over the steering T with a dremel. Most OC1's that have stainless- keep an eye on the area just at the foot pedal for a broken stand of wire- time to change and easy as you just snip off the cable stop and replace. I wouldn't do this more than once as the loop in the back (and front on a Pueo) can wear down. Most of us don't carry any type of back up in case we break a cable, but we should. A simple safety item is a piece of rubber innertube you can shove between the rudder blade and hull to jam the rudder straight (practice on land first) so you can limp home if a cable snaps.
Thu, 07/26/2012 - 8:38pm
An easy means of locking the rudder would be an attractive feature in emergencies, boat manufacturers.
Murphy tells us that cables always snap just out of sight of land.
Fri, 08/03/2012 - 12:34pm
Yankee, several manufacturers offer models without rudders. this assures no broken cables and renders lock out devices useless.. no matter how far Mr. Murphy is from land.
to be fair, I don't think anything realy replaces the strength or durability of cable though. it's always good to change em periodically like you change the oil in your car. no matter what kind you got.
Sat, 08/04/2012 - 1:58pm
By cable, you are referring to steel? Suggestions on kind? I have what is called airplane cable( stainless steel)
Mon, 08/06/2012 - 5:18pm
1X19 stainless steel wire. Available at many marine stores , sailmakers.
Tue, 08/07/2012 - 7:21am
I also own a China made XM, I had my spectra line break on me (3 miles out) and wedged a small piece of inner tube between rudder to limp home. I swapped the spetra with stainless line and it's working great and I have a lot more confidence in it not failing. As Paddlefast said, you will have to dremel out the top opening of the rudder section, but it's much nicer with a larger opening there anyway (for rinsing, inspection, rudder changes). I have also set up a "Return to home" feature stated by pog (see below), I have it on all my canoes and surfskis.
Recommended
A centered pad eye forward with loop of bunji on it works good too. Only need the one working cable to get home.
aloha,
pog
Mon, 07/23/2012 - 12:17am
Tue, 08/07/2012 - 7:53am
till up in the air with cable replacement. Steel vs spectra. Now thinking about running a second spectra/dacron down the chases to each pedal as a back up. This back up would have a little slack in the line so it only comes into play when the main spectra line breaks. It would limit steering but it would still be steerable.
That last bungie idea is a good one too
Tue, 08/07/2012 - 10:15am