Kai Waa Vega Arc

This looks like the dyneema I used. It's 1.8mm. They also sell 2mm.

www.unkolearnuhow.com/product-page/unko-...-braid-stiff-dyneema

To fit mine thru the rudder wheel like Kai did, I had to fold it over and jam it thru the hole in the rudder wheel.
I had to smash it with pliers and it barely fit thru the hole.
The doubled over line was very snug in the hole.

Also, it fit easily thru the pedals. I used a set of pliers with a sharp point, to guide it thru the tricky spot.

The hole in the rudder wheel - with a doubled over line - is a good gauge. I would not go 2mm as I mentioned in the previous post - not with this stuff. It's quite stiff, the braid is very tight.

$0.40 cents per foot. I got 50 feet for $20. Easily enough for two boats.

Great tip Ranga, this stuff looks super strong.

A friend of mine bought a used Cantare.' it has the same self centering rudder system.

Her rudder seemed to have a bit of play. Not much, but not solidly centered like mine.
You should be able to flick the rudder back and forth and it should center perfect and solid each time.

So, we opened it up to inspect the stop collar system.

Stop collar (white thing) was fine. In the early Ares days, some of those collars would crack where the screw holds it down.
They replaced that old plastic with newer, tougher plastic. If you have an older Ares, keep an eye on that collar.

I put a washer under my screws, because I'm fussy. I was concerned that the screw head might dent the plastic and make adjustment difficult - if it ever needed it....



Her problem was an easy fix.
The top of the rudder shaft has a square end that fits into the tiller wheel.
You can test the fit by inserting it and wiggling it without the screw.

If it feels sloppy, I'd get a new tiller wheel.
The wheel is plastic - if it gets smacked around or over tightened, the mortise may get sloppy.
We tightened up her screw and that eliminated the play.

She got a new tiller wheel today, it should fit better, with less torque required on the screw.
Mine sets tight without much torque at all. Probably just enough to smash the spring split washer.

Be sure to use the split washer in the tiller wheel and a small amount of blue locktite on the threads.



Size of the old and new line is very close. The new stuff is super strong.

Update to the rudder wheel replacement on the Cantare'

The new wheel fits better.
The wheels have a metal sleeve, not all plastic like I said in the previous post.



The new wheel is a nice, snug fit to the rudder.
Minimal torque on the screw to smoosh the split spring washer, then a bit more to set it tight.
Be sure to use loctite.

We think maybe the previous owner was paddling with a loose screw, allowing some side to side play in the rudder.
That may have caused the fit to loosen over time.

Now it's crisp and clean like a new boat, with a new spring.

Here's another great feature of the Vega Arc.
If you feel like dive bombing short period steep waves and barely miss, the penalty is not so bad.
Simply pull up short, wait for the wave to go under then zoom down.
I couldn't do that in narrower boats. They have much less flotation.
Swamping the bucket is one thing, submerging up to your waist in water as the wave comes thru is another.
Arc is so fat and floaty it just floats up and chills as the wave comes thru.
Super fun boat. Love the safety of a wide ski.