Control arm plastic tab at aft end of tiller

[passagesfromtheheart]

Hi, wondering if other 23 owners could chime in, here (I hope I explain this ok so it makes sense): :-)

There is evidently some sort of a 'plastic tab,' as described in the Com-Pac 23 owner's manual, to situate/secure the top portion of the control arm into the aft end of the tiller. My 23, it appears, doesn't have this plastic tab. That said, the control arm constantly swings backwards. Currently, as a work-around solution, I'm using a bungee on the control arm, secured to the stern pulpit,  so that the control arm won't fall backwards.

Could someone possibly take a close-up picture of this 'plastic tab' so I can compare with what I see on my boat? I'd be very grateful! Thank you so much!

Fair winds,
~ Chelle

[brackish]

There is a block of black delrin on the end of the rudder yoke and the control arm should have two tabs welded to it.  One of the tabs sits on the delrin block when you lift your rudder the other sits on it when the rudder is in the down locked for sailing position.  But that isn't what keeps the control arm from falling.  The control arm has a bend that positions it to be jammed in a slot on the aluminum rudder plate that has the rudder body attached to it by pivot bolt.  the slot is supposed to lock it up and eliminate lateral movement.

It doesn't work well.  I use a small bungee cord to hold mine in place.  I also replaced the original delrin block with a new design I made which has a slot for the control arm to eliminate nuisance lifts from lateral slide off. There is an old post on it but I don't know how to get there and the pics may not show up anyway because of the photobucket debacle years ago.  but here is a pic of the top with the rudder in the up position.

[bruce]

A local Sun Cat owner recently asked about the control arm and I recalled brackish had a good solution. Here's the thread I found:

https://cpyoa.com/forum/index.php?topic=7267.0

[brackish]

Hey thanks for finding that for me.  I can tell by picture placement that it was modified after the Photobucket ambush.  BTW it has worked perfectly for me since it was done.  No nuisance lateral slide off kick ups and it does kick up appropriately when it needs to by contact to the bottom or a solid object.  I sent it to Hutchins but they were not interested in making it stock.

[passagesfromtheheart]

Thank you so very much, brackish and Bruce, for the info and pictures re: the control arm -- so greatly appreciated!