Hello all, I’m new to paddling. I’ve looked around the interwebs for some time now and I can’t find any kayaks with a similar rudder set up. The boat is called a Dirigo 17.
I bought this 2nd hand it didn’t have the rudder attached. I can’t find a way to mount it that makes sense. I thought this might be the place to see if anyone is familiar with it. It only has one pedal and a pulling side. At first I thought maybe the pedal turns it, but it would only turn one way, I’m not sure how to run the rope to get it to reset to straight. Sorry I’m very lost.
Ah new user limitations. Might need to add more photos in replies.
Dirigo kayaks were bought out by Old Town Canoe, a subsidiary of Johnson Outdoors, before being discontinued. Contact Customer Service at Feedback@oldtowncanoe.com or at 800-343-1555. They may be able to assist with parts and accessories. Be sure to have the serial number of the kayak. There were a number of variants.
Another option is to talk to Tom at Topkayaker.com. He specializes in parts for discontinued kayaks.
He seems to have been blessed with two pedals. Mine doesn’t have the 2nd cable inlet at all, just the release rope. No signs there was ever two pedals.
In your photos, it looks like the rope attached to the base could turn the angle of the blade if the base pivots, so maybe just one rope to pivot and one to position it up or down?
That’s correct. The one rope that is in the 2nd to to last pic is the raise and lower rope. The other ties to one pedal. The base of the rudder is a pulley. It turns right if I wire it and hit the pedal. But it does not reset itself back to center. I have to raise the rudder.
I’ve been using it in the straight position since I got it when I lower the rudder, since I can’t return to center I don’t use the pedal.
The only way I can see this rudder working is if the rotating part of the rudder were spring loaded. In this case you would have to keep your foot on the pedal to have it anywhere other than full left turn.
I have taken it apart before and it was not spring loaded. I think I’ll remedy this by making that 2nd hole myself and adding the 2nd pedal. I’ll see if I can find a matching eyelet or I’ll get a new pair so it doesn’t look janky. I like how this boat looks. Thank you all for your help.
The video clearly shows two pedals and two eyelets on the rear deck for rudder lines on both sides, which makes sense. Kind of obvious for a manufacturing error. Rudder is unusable without a second pedal and rudder line.
