Tom:
If you look under the uppermost rudder bracket on your boat you'll notice
two spotwelds from a broken retention clip that used to hold your rudder on.
West Marine sells a stainless steel tang that can be used to hold the rudder
on. The tang would screw to the wood on the rudder and protude out under the
top bracket, preventing the rudder from moving up and then out. The tang
acts like a large flat spring. Check in the West Marine catalogue under
rudder parts.
Jim Nolan P-19 #426 Panache
>From: "Thos. Westerman" <thomasw@vanion.com>
>To: ecpa@onelist.com
>CC: Potter List <wwpotter@tscnet.com>
>Subject: rudder "safety strap" concept
>Date: Mon, 20 Dec 1999 16:12:55 -0700
>
>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> West Wight Potter Website at URL
> http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> >For what it is worth, in four seasons I've used the feel method of depth
> >sounding many times with no noticeable damage. The bolt was
>approximately
>"C" shaped when
> >we got it out, the rudder gudgeons we were able to straighten with vise
> >grips.
>
>This brings up a question I have had. I recall an occasion where my kick
>up rudder did just that in very shallow water. It both kicked up and also
>the upward pressure was enough to knock the rudderpins out of the gudgeons
>such that the whole unit became disconnected from the hull. Fortunately
>our rate of travel was so miniscule as to only remove the rudder about an
>inch behind the boat from its normal position and the friction of the
>tiller on the top of the transom kept the rudder within reach, but I have
>thought, what if I was going faster and under sail power so I couldnt stop
>soon (and thus lost my rudder? FREAK?)
>Has anyone considered a "safety strap/cable" type concept for the rudder?
>
>I did use a similar concept once for the outboard (I connected a bicycle
>security cable around its mount and secured that to the most rearward mount
>of the cockpit SS Rail). It was for anti theft on an overnighter, but I
>knew it was also functional if I lost the motor somehow (longshot of
>course) off the transom or motor mount.
>
>Thomas Westerman (boat currently totally outlined in white christmas
>lights)
>P19 #578 (thinking about naming her "Liahona")
>Colorado Springs
>
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