Rudder Problem P19
Richard Neumann (neumannr@gte.net)
Mon, 19 Jul 1999 16:51:21 -0700
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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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There I was in a good breeze healed over at 20 to 30 degrees when the single
pivot bolt holding together the two sections of the rudder let go.
Fortunately, a line between the two sections held so I could collect the
pieces. The nut apparently came off the pivot bolt bending one side of the
steel plates connecting the two pieces. Is this bolt known to go? Should
it be checked often? It was a lock nut; how could it have vibrated off?
By the way, when the rudder goes, you tend to go around in circles for a
while. Also, it is REALLY hard to steer the boat with the off-center
outboard with the keel down.
Fortunately, we had a spare bolt/nut combination and after jumping on the
steel plates, we could jury-rig a rudder to get back to port. With more
adroit jumping I actually got the bend out of the plates.
I can't imagine what went wrong and I'd appreciate hearing from the rest of
the list on this one.
Dick Neumann
P19 "Sea Bean"
Puget Sound, WA.