Well, the 26M came out of the water this weekend. To my surprise I found the port rudder rope had been severed in two places. I am pretty sure it could not have reached the prop so am thinking it was a muskrat looking for soft nesting material. Anyone have rudder line damage in/at the water line like this? Any solutions like line treatment to prevent gnawing? Using an alternative line material for the in-water locations?
This is not a hard fix but it would be great to avoid it in the future if possible.
Duncan
Rudder Ropes & Rodents?
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45Plus+
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Rudder Ropes & Rodents?
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NiceAft
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Re: Rudder Ropes & Rodents?
I wonder what you will find if you research “What is foul tasting to muskrats?” If it was one of my sons, it would be spinach.
Ray ~~_/)~~
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Russ
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Re: Rudder Ropes & Rodents?
I wonder if Dyneema line would be more resistant. I know it's resistant to knives.
--Russ
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45Plus+
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Re: Rudder Ropes & Rodents?
Dyneema boiled in spinach.....could be done though I imagine muskrats (assuming that was the culprit) would love that 
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I guess in that line of thought (pardon the pun) I could saturate the in-water portion of the line with marine grease (or some such environmentally friendly goo) but not so much as to leave a mess on the hull and rudder.
I've been thinking that perhaps ensuring I pull all the loose line inboard (i.e.; pull in the slack on the downhaul side of the line when the rudders are elevated) might present less of a target as well.
.I guess in that line of thought (pardon the pun) I could saturate the in-water portion of the line with marine grease (or some such environmentally friendly goo) but not so much as to leave a mess on the hull and rudder.
I've been thinking that perhaps ensuring I pull all the loose line inboard (i.e.; pull in the slack on the downhaul side of the line when the rudders are elevated) might present less of a target as well.