Rudder pull-up cord too short: fix
The pull-up rope is double-wrapped around the rudder blade axle from the factory — unwrap it one turn and you'll add about 22 mm of usable rope without breaking the function.
The pull-up rope on the Traverse Fatback Rudder comes double-wrapped around the rudder blade axle at the factory. Unwrap one turn — that adds about 22 mm of usable rope while the cord still functions correctly.
Why it ships double-wrapped
The double wrap gives the cord a little extra friction grip on the axle, so the blade holds position cleanly under load even before you cleat the cord off at the cockpit. It's deliberate, not a manufacturing oversight.
The trade-off is reach: customers with longer cockpits, taller seats, or the Horizon Elevated Seat Perch sometimes find the double-wrapped cord doesn't quite stretch where they want it. That's where the unwrap comes in.
How to unwrap one turn
- Make sure the rudder blade is deployed (down position) — the axle is easier to access.
- Loosen the cord at the cleat in the cockpit.
- At the rudder, find where the cord exits the axle and trace it back to the wrap.
- Pull one turn of the cord off the axle. The cord stays attached at the original anchor point — you're just taking one wrap off the spool.
- Re-route the cord back to the cleat and re-tension.
You'll get roughly 22 mm of extra cord at the cockpit end.
When to stop
Don't unwrap further. The single wrap is the minimum that still gives the cord enough grip on the axle to hold the blade in the up position when you cleat off short. If you take both wraps off you'll lose the lock-up function.
If 22 mm still isn't enough reach, the next move is to re-rope the system with a longer cord. Marine-grade braid (4 mm) in the same diameter works fine. Reach out to support if you want a spec sheet.
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