Broken rudder cable

I got a Scarab lifeguard spec surfski with a rusted cable that is stuck and not able to be pulled out. The cable broke on one side after vigorous pulling. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Never had a stuck cable not come unstuck after repeated and vigorous application of CRC 556 (kind of like WD 40)

Just apply lots and wiggle, leave and repeat

I agree with sAsLEX. Soak it with WD40 like product. Be generous.

Make a loop in the cable as near to the hole as possible. Slip a lever through the loop (something like a screwdriver) and twist the cable in the direction that makes the strands tighten (if this makes sense). Keep twisting and pulling and it will eventually twist itself free. Use the WD40 as mentioned by others. Forcing pickling paste into the conduit may dissolve the rust but should be a last resort as is quite corrosive and aggressive stuff. You would get this paste from a welding equipment supplier.

One ski in my club have the same problem and tried all the things wd40 steel wire with no success. I have to take off the side strip (kevlar tape) and cut it open to replace the plastic tube.

No need to cut the ski open to replace the tube. There is a much easier way. Drill out the ends of the old tube to about 10mm and feed new tube through the bigger holes and secure with good epoxy or similar, done!
Yes it sounds easier than in reality but when you have done it a few times it gets easier and faster.
I feed the S/S cable through the new tube you want to fit and then feed the S/S cable through the ski and hook it out with a wire hook through the bigger hole you just drilled. It is then easy to pull the tube trough with the S/S cable inside the tube.

The tube is not loose inside it's glued with patches of kevlar at least in my case so it won't come out by just drilling bigger holes at the ends.

You leave the old tube inside the ski.

I've seen people glueing a new tube on the deck of the ski and run a new cable this way. It's uggly but it works.

If you just can't remove the old rudder cable housing......leave the old one inside.....often it's a good idea to use a length of very stiff wire that will make it easier to "find" the other second exit point for the rudder cable (similar to how you might run wiring in a house using a "fish tape") It might be useful or required to make a opening in the boat if you can't feel/find the of exit point with the wire alone. You could mount a inspection port ( round hatch ) with a opening large enough to fit you hand through so you could reach inside and be able to feed the housing out through the boat. Another option is to cut out the hole for you hand save the cut out portion and when you are done with the housing installation glue the cut out portion back onto the boat using fiberglass resin and cloth. I like using black 1/4" poly tube (drip irrigation line ) for the housing. Leave the ends long and cut them off after sealing the end of the housing to the boat.

good luck,

joel