Kayak rudder help!

Went out the water today and as I try to deploy the rudder nothing happened.  I had to go back on the beach and had to do it manually.  Do you guys lube your rudders or something?  It’s squeeking when I was manually deploying it and when stowing.  Not sure if it was over tighen or something.

Thank you!

Would need to see a video... Recommend checking inside the hull when you deploy rudder. The lines may have gotten stuck,  jammed, etc.

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What kind of kayak?

On my boats with rudders, they're all externally rope deployed. YMMV if yours isn't.

On mine, I wax the rope used to deploy the rudder, concentrating on areas that pass through any guides along the way. I also make sure to completely rinse the assembly everywhere if I've been in the salt. If you're squeaking, you might have overtightened the nut/bolt the rudder pivots on.

Couple other things I've noted when it's been hard to deploy the rudder: sometimes I'll absent mindedly put the seat clips over the top of the rope and that can cause problems. Also, if the rudder deployment ropes are very dry, they have a tendency to shrink on my boat, which can make them stiff and short/tight, which also makes it hard to drop the rudder, getting the ropes wet solves this pretty quickly.

Agree with newfuturevintage. Most kayak rudders are a relatively simple mechanism so if there is an issue deploying, there are only a few places to look. The squeak while manually deploying screams that the the nut on the main pivot bolt was overtightened. If it took much pressure for you to deploy it manually, it's going to be too tight to rope deploy. Back that nut off just a little and see if it helps. Otherwise, check to make sure that nothing has been installed/clipped across the deployment rope. Also, my rudder has a rope cleat that can be used to hold the rudder rope tight once it's deployed. I've had the rope accidentally slip into that cleat with the rudder stowed which ends up preventing it from deploying.

Just check for obstructions and then make sure all parts of moving freely and you should be in business.

Motorcycles use a product called Cable Lube. I have some from that endeavor and use it on my T 15's rudder cable system = No problems!

I Zod Out

Thanks guy.  Bought a wd40 and will lube the heck out of it and also the area where the ropes pass through.  Hopefully that works.  If not, will try to loosen the bolts.

Also, my rudder has a rope cleat that can be used to hold the rudder rope tight once it's deployed. I've had the rope accidentally slip into that cleat with the rudder stowed which ends up preventing it from deploying.

Forgot about that, both my SOT and SINK with rudders have that and it can get maddening.

Well... for those interested on an update, WD-40 did the trick. 

Big fan of Bees Wax .