Malibu Stealth-12 Kayak rudder cable tube installation

In this article I will discuss how to install a rudder cable tube in the Malibu Stealth-12 Kayak in 6 easy steps.  Installing a rudder cable tube is an easy task as long as you have the proper tools.

The tools required to complete this task can be purchased at your local home improvement store or Wal-Mart.

Tools Required:
Drill
Drill bit
Scissors
Tape Measure
Sharpie

The materials to complete this job can be purchased online or from your local home improvement store.

Materials Required:
16 ft. of rudder cable tube


Step 1
Measure the 16 ft. piece of rudder cable tube in half and cut it with scissors.  This can be done by actually measuring it or just folding the cable in a half and cutting it evenly.


Step 2
Identify on your kayak where the rudder cable tube will need to be inserted.  It is best to start the installation of the rudder cable tube at the stern of the kayak.  This area is easy to identify on the stern of the Malibu Stealth-12 Kayak by the two flat indentations on the left and right side.  Using a sharpie, mark a dot in the center on the left and right sides of the kayak.


Step 3
Once the holes have been marked at the stern of the kayak, you will need to drill a hole using a drill and a 1/4" drill bit.  Depending on the diameter of your rudder cable tube you may need to size a drill bit to your tube appropriately.  You will want the tube to fit snug into the drilled hole.


Step 4
Open the dry storage compartments on the left and right side of the live well (casting platform).  Remove the dry storage compartment linings.  The storage compartment linings should just snap and lift out.

You will use this area to reach into the hull of the kayak to reach the rudder cable tube when you begin feeding it through the hull.  Please not when feeding the rudder cable tube through the hull it may be easier with two people as one person can wiggle and feed it as the other person grabs it.

Begin feeding the rudder cable tube through the drilled hole at the stern of the kayak.  Feed the cable through until approximately 1 ft. Of cable is still outside of the hull.  Once you are able to reach it from the middle of the kayak, pull all remaining slack that is in the hull and bring it outside of the dry storage compartment and let it sit.

Repeat step for the other side of the kayak.


Step 5
Once the rudder cable tube has been ran through the hull of the kayak on both sides, you will want to begin to identify the best location for the rudder cable tube to exit the kayak.  There are limited options on the Malibu Stealth-12 Kayak as the tube has to be ran around the storage compartments.

On the wall on the inside foot area of the hull mark a dot with a sharpie to indicate where the hole should be drilled for the rudder cable tube to exit the hull.   To fit my SmartTrack Toe Pilot Foot Control System I had to locate my holes at approximately _ up and 1/2" in from the edge. (Use caution when drilling to be certain you are clearing the side wall of the hull when drilling)

Step 6
Feed the rudder cable tube through the hull into the foot area of the kayak.  The rudder cable tube can be ran around the dry storage compartment and stored in the groove along the top of the inside of the hull.  Begin to feed the slack of the rudder cable tube through the hole you drilled in the hull of the kayak (See Step 5).

The rudder tube has not been properly installed.  At this point you will need to trim any additional slack and leave at least 1" to 2" at the stern of the kayak.  You will want to leave the necessary amount of slack at the front area of your kayak to properly feed your foot pedal controls.  The amount of length you leave at the front depending on the style of foot pedal controls you have.  The next step is to install the rudder cable.