Raising and lowering the rudder

I find it next to impossible to raise and lower the rudder using the tiller after I take off. Have to do both from the water,, but not from inside the boat. I've tried slightly loosening the bolt through the rudder cheeks, but don't want to lose my rudder out on the water! Tiller bolt loose enough. I have a fairly new Sunfish (around 2014 or so) with plastic rudder. What I am doing wrong? Maybe just too weak as I'm 83 years old, but this should not be impossible even for an old man...

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