Rudder Cable
Reivers Dustin
11/05/24 #36604

Had a spot of bother this morning. Rudder cable broke on my Vega Arc. The self-center mode was really handy, getting me back to beach. The break is back side of footwell where the cable bends toward the anchor point on the front of the cockpit. Once I got home, I was able to move slack from the other side through the routing so I could tie a splice and re-center the rudder pedals. There is a whole bunch of fiddley bits in there.

rd

(Click on image to enlarge)

Reivers Dustin
11/05/24 #36606

… seems to work now, but I'll be wary in my next paddle.

The routing seemed to be factory correct. If you look at back side of footplate on these boats, you'll see that it's quite a routing system. This is so that foot pedals can be moved w/o adjusting these cables. Yes, Dyneema (or Spectra - same stuff), and the problem occurred right at the last bend in the thread before it goes up to the anchor point at the front of the cockpit. I did not see any cause-agent or reason why it happened. This point would not see wear since there would be no movement with rudder position. It would only move when you move the footplate for new foot positioning.

Today was not a goldilocks type day for a paddle anyway.

rd

Duncan Howat
11/05/24 #36607

RD, not all of us old people have near the super powerful leg strength that you have, to push forward and lock in the boat. But be careful, you might crush the back of the seat well. Looking at the set up where the cables come out of the foot pedals is a very sharp bend, and as you fan the pedals like helicopter blades,I think some stress and wear will occur here. Is that the area of breakage?Course mine still look like new, cuz I have no leg push.

Reivers Dustin
11/05/24 #36608

Dunc, everything you say is true. Except the part about super powerful. It broke at the 90 degree turn where it goes out of the foot-plate and turns to the front part of the cockpit where it is tied off. This is in the middle where both sides of cable route behind the foot pedals where the pedals hinge on the foot-plate.

This part of the cable doesn't move when you work the rudder. It's a head scratcher.

David Scherrer
11/07/24 #36610

Nice photos Reivers!

Paul Reavley
7/9/2025 #37784

Reivers,

Playing around with my Arc pedals today i believe i see that the rudder line (while not going forward or back - does relax and move out a bit from the contact point in the pedal that is not being pressed particularly when that pedal goes well back toward the paddler, then is pulled tight back into its channel when its pedal is pressed - seems like a possible opportunity for wear.

Reivers Dustin
7/9/2025 #37785

Agree Paul. Since that all happened, Duncan noticed some signs of stress on his cable at that spot. It got me worried, so I looked and mine is showing a sign of stress at that spot again.

For you similar boat owners, this is something to monitor. It would be “disturbing”. Like that villain guy in “the Fifth Element” where he says, “I Am … Disturbed” as he starts blowing people away.

If you are in the gorge on a big day, not good.