Hey guys. I'm new to the whole sailing world basicly I was sailing from home NY to NJ. Ran into ALOT of problems. Boat ended up washed up. I had a friend pull it out so we could more her and the steering cable snapped leaving the rubber turned to port. I read about the emergency tiller but I have to make a tool to fit in bc I did not see any onboard. Does anyone have advise or suggestions for me? Taking her out of the water is not an option. She's currently anchored. I'm looking to get the emergency tiller fitted on so I am able to move her to the marina.
28 sabre broken steering cable
- Thread starter M&K soulmates
- Start date
The standard Sabre emergency rudder is a piece of 1" pipe with a T handle at the top. Look in the sail locker, it might be tucked up under a shelf. Typically it is painted brown. It is not the most efficient design.
Get a tow to a marina and let us know when you're safe.
Get a tow to a marina and let us know when you're safe.
That's not an option because the rubber is stuck to port so it won't go straight. Where would I find the steering linkage? I believe if I disconnect it the rubber will away freely
And you will sink.
The top of the rudder bearing is just about at the waterline.
The rudder is controlled by 2 cables, that are under neath the cockpit sole. You'll have to dive into the sail locker and remove some plywood panels to access it.
I saw the cables when I looked in there. The one is broke. I'm assuming that's why the rubber is stuck. But if I use the emergency tiller will it move? I couldn't find one on the boat so I'm making one up now
You’re going to need to figure out why it’s stuck. If the only problem is the broken cable it should move on its own as the boat moves. If the broken cable is jammed somewhere you’ll need to clear that before you can turn the rudder with the emergency tiller or otherwise. If you were grounded hard it’s also possible that the rudder post bent and the rudder is jammed because of that. Again not something that an emergency tiller would fix.
The rudder cables work on a pull system, turn the wheel one way and the rudder is pulled, turn it the other way and the rudder is pulled back. If one cable is broken, it can only move in one direction. There is no "push" in the system.
At the top of the rudder post, there will be a bolt. The standard Sabre emergency tiller has a coupling threaded on to a pipe. The coupling has a slot cut into it to slip over the bolt. The pipe has a T at the top with a short pieces of pipe to give a little leverage. At low speeds it works, but at higher speeds the torque can make it difficult to control.
Before you start moving, try the rudder, if the emergency tiller doesn't move it, cut the other cable or disconnect it. Then try the E-tiller. If it still doesn't move, then @Davidasailor26 suggestion that the rudder post is bent might be an issue. Depends on what you went aground on and how fast you were going when you went aground. It could also be a jammed steering cable. The intact cable might have jammed in the sheave or jammed in the pedestal. The cable is connected to a piece of chain that rides on a sprocket in the pedestal. Once the cable broke the chain might have slipped off the sprocket and jammed. Remove the compass to investigate.
Get yourself to a safe place and take a deep breath.
At the top of the rudder post, there will be a bolt. The standard Sabre emergency tiller has a coupling threaded on to a pipe. The coupling has a slot cut into it to slip over the bolt. The pipe has a T at the top with a short pieces of pipe to give a little leverage. At low speeds it works, but at higher speeds the torque can make it difficult to control.
Before you start moving, try the rudder, if the emergency tiller doesn't move it, cut the other cable or disconnect it. Then try the E-tiller. If it still doesn't move, then @Davidasailor26 suggestion that the rudder post is bent might be an issue. Depends on what you went aground on and how fast you were going when you went aground. It could also be a jammed steering cable. The intact cable might have jammed in the sheave or jammed in the pedestal. The cable is connected to a piece of chain that rides on a sprocket in the pedestal. Once the cable broke the chain might have slipped off the sprocket and jammed. Remove the compass to investigate.
Get yourself to a safe place and take a deep breath.
Knowing how the boat "washed up" might provide some clue. Of course you may still need to do all or some of the things recommended. Where you on-board when she "washed up" Did she wash up into the shallows, rocks or sands stern first or athwartships (sidways)? What hit the bottom first, the bow, the keel or the rudder? Was she subjected to pounding or up and down movement from waves when whe was aground? When you and your friend pulled the boat off the grounding, did you pull her stern first, bow first, etc. All these things may have impact on whether the damage is to the steering cables or to the rudder itself. Was the rudder turned when you pulled her off?
When did the cable break? Was the rudder hard over (stuck to port) when you pulled the boat off? Was if after you were pulled off and were trying to turn the wheel to recenter the rudder that the cable broke? Where you turning the wheel with a lot of force? I'm not asking these questions to criticize, just to try and understand the reason for why the cable broke since grounding alone shouldn't break the cables.
As I see it, a grounding alone, barring some pretty odd circumstances, should'nt cause the steering cables to break? The rudder may kick over during or after the grounding but there is no specific force on the cables themselves soley due to the grounding. If the cable broke while you were trying to turn the wheel with force or after the boat was refloated when you were putting a lot of force on trying to turn the wheel I'd bet that the rudder post or some other component has bent and the rudder is jammed over. Answering the questions posed might provide a clue.
When did the cable break? Was the rudder hard over (stuck to port) when you pulled the boat off? Was if after you were pulled off and were trying to turn the wheel to recenter the rudder that the cable broke? Where you turning the wheel with a lot of force? I'm not asking these questions to criticize, just to try and understand the reason for why the cable broke since grounding alone shouldn't break the cables.
As I see it, a grounding alone, barring some pretty odd circumstances, should'nt cause the steering cables to break? The rudder may kick over during or after the grounding but there is no specific force on the cables themselves soley due to the grounding. If the cable broke while you were trying to turn the wheel with force or after the boat was refloated when you were putting a lot of force on trying to turn the wheel I'd bet that the rudder post or some other component has bent and the rudder is jammed over. Answering the questions posed might provide a clue.
When she was aground I was able to see the rubber and it seemed fine. It moved freely by the wheel and by hand. The keel washed up first. I was not on her when she washed up so idk the extent of what she may have hit. But the rubber was free and moving until my friend began to pull. Then all of a sudden it got jammed to port and done budge. I went under Neath and from what I can see it just looked "stuck" when I got back in the boat I looked under where the cables are and the starboard side cable was broke. It looked like it was stuck on the pulley tho. Maybe that's why the rubber and wheel are stuck to port....? This entire weekend trying to get her home has been way out of control. Towing her isn't an option so im just trying to get it to steer so I'm able to try her off to the side before this storm hits Wednesday.