Lutz's Web Pages: DIY: New Rudder Pedals for Folbot Greenland II

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The Greenland II rudder works well enough, but I have two problems with it: There is no provision to let #1 steer, and (as others also have remarked) the pedal assembly is flimsy and not too ergonomic. As Folbot did not react at all to my inquiry for a #1 pedal option, I decided to build new pedal assemblies for both seats that would double as foot rests and allow to steer from either the #1 or #2 seat. This would means adding a second line to each side, and I made these detachable in case only one was needed (see line schema, below, the blue blob where the lines split is a small carbine hook). As a guide for the #1 lines I added eyelets to the #3 crossframe (as they are, factory-installed, on the #5 frame).

For the pedals I decided to use sail battens made from glass-fibre reinforced plastic, in 16 by 2 mm size. These have the advantage that they return to neutral automatically if the lines are set correctly. To adjust the lines I use clamcleats, as in the original rudder, as I liked that solution. The only disadvantage I could find with the battens is that the glass fibres are nasty if they splice off the batten and become splinters, waiting for the paddler's hand or foot. However, it is easy to protect oneself by covering the raw batten with a silicone hose.

The pedal blocks I made from 9mm resin-coated plywood. Not a good decision, but it is light, cheap as well as easy to get and to process; next time I would try to get sheets of acrylic or reinforced epoxy which would save me the time to varnish all the edges.
I made a 3D model of the pedal assemblies (Google Sketchup format) that you can download here (530 MB ZIP) (this file also contains the seat base modification described here).

Each block is made from a baseplate that fits between the two tubes of the keel and has a bracket on the underside that fits over one of the black plastic plates of the keel. It is possible to fasten the baseplate with an M5 bolt through the plastic plate, but this is probably not necessary. The baseplate also has two rows of holes that accommodate index plungers of the adjustable slider.

The slider fits around the side flanges of the baseplate and can be moved to adjust it to leg length and seat position. Two indexing plungers (Ganter GN612, a part that is used in manufacturing jigs) lock it into position through the holes of the baseplate. On the slider is a foot rest, and glued into slots at the end of the foot rest are the pedals. I used a lot of epoxy 2K-glue when building the pedal assemblies.

The rudder pedal assemblies are not exactly light and the slider-pedal block does not fit into any of the bags, but I think one could improve on that by modifying the construction. On the other hand they are very easy to put in place in the boat and to remove when disassembling the boat. Next time I would at least make the pedals/pedal bar separable from the slider block.

Here are some more detail photos. Note that the #1 and #2 assemblies are different to fit the different form of the keel at their positions.

Bottom side of both sliders (top = #1, bottom = #2 seat), not complete yet but affording a view on the indexing plungers.

Bottom side of #2 assembly. The red frames are the places where part of the slider is still missing. The indexing plungers are visible in the centre holes.

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Written and published by Lutz Pietschker. Please send comments about technical problems to the site master.
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, last change 2011-03-12

New Rudder Pedals For Folbot Greenland II