Many Thanks Brian !
It makes sense, and keeps the rudders from flopping around too much.
Will give it a go and report back

All the best
Andrew

I only motor and have the rudders down when maneuvering near the Club and/or mooring, with some dagger board down for extra control not more than 3-4kn, so I don't think I damaged it that way,. When sailing in over 15kn and close-hauled there is a reasonable amount of pressure from the steering whee...

Thanks for the reply. The extra thick washers have been done by a friend (Engineer) and they do work well, but you have pointed out I see that there is a bending of the brackets, so I will take up your suggestion and strengthen them somehow. I may give it a go with the Ida rudders, thanks for the po...

Hi I wonder if anyone has experience a delaminaton of the rudder, I had a major delamination in Jan-Feb 2015 with my right rudder ( it was about 12 months old) and replaced it in Feb 2015 with a new one . I can now see the beginning of the same damage in the new rudder and if it goes the same way as...

Hi Mike My background is mostly Flying Duthcmans, I started sailing at 12 (in FJ at first) and sailed for about 10 years before coming to Australia, over the last 20 years I have done some more sailing in Perth. I have been sailing and racing my Tattoo for about 12 months, in Division 5, competing a...

Same Problem and funny enough same answer!
Will have to look for a replacement cap.

(3) the admiral does not like the flimsy door (if you can call it that) for the head, I may have to order an old 26M spare door or have one made up I still have my door that I removed. It's totally useless unless you are a midget. We put up a curtain, so much better and roomier. --Russ Hi Russ Than...

and strengthening the rudders so they don't go wobbly within 12 months. I Interisting: What will be stengthened exactely? Do you know alreay? Hi Kurz, I am fortunate that my dealer (Klaus from echo yachts) has an engineering background and he is reinforcing the attachment of the rudder. If you look...

I have just bought a Tattoo in Western Australia and the dealer will be getting another one in a few months, apparently there was a 6 months stop in production and therefore backlog in orders. The dealers in the East coast of Australia (3000km away) have also started receiving theirs ~November 2013....

This may help understanding the process and risks.
As per final comment, unless you know what you are doing this is not a DIY project.

http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/lightning.htm

Stay safe and have fun

Hi Mac26Mpaul thank you for your reply, I will definitely try one before buying it, the distributor is in Qld but it seems there is someone in Perth who enjoyed the Mac so much that he set up some sort of distribution http://www.ecoyachts.com.au/ I think it may just be a one man company but if he is...

Thank you Crikey and TheDart for your reply. It sounds like the Mac should be OK, but obviously I have to take precautions. Reduce the sail early and have the right combination for the conditions. I will probably spend months sailing around the Swan before adventuring outside Fremantle and will keep...

Hi I am considering getting myself a Macgregor. I have read quite a lot of posts from different forums inc in the USA and I have a reasonable idea of what the Mac can or can not do. My concern is that most of the posts come from areas where the winds are 10 to 15 Kn max. and the seas are probably no...