Hello, I bet the rudder backwards just a little bit on my cutter. I am away from the boat and won't get back to it for a month but I had an epiphany about being able to move it. I am wondering if I can drop the rudder by about 1 in which would allow it to rotate freely. Can the quadrant be repositioned? I am assuming the quadrant is what holds the redder up? I can't remember the configuration and would love some input. It would be a temporary solution just so I could freely navigate to get it dry old. As I recall what I can with my feeble mind, it seems that I should be able to. I'm not going to try to cross an ocean with it in that position so please don't start throwing the safety card at me.
37 ft cutter Rudder help please
- Thread starter Cocoa Beach Sailor
- Start date
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- Tags
- rudder advice
The rudder post is just a hollow tube. If there is no kink where it bent, you may be able to have it straightened by a machine shop, etc. Personally, I would not simply 'drop' the rudder a couple of inches; this will lead to new stress on the rudder shaft due to increased leverage by the rudder on the lower bearing and the extra holes for the quadrant thru-bolt. Have you checked whether your insurance will cover a new rudder?
Edit: if you are just looking to free the rudder enough to move the boat for haul out and repair, you could drop it an inch, but I'm not sure it will stay there as the rudder floats (unless water logged). Also, I would NOT drill another hole through the rudder shaft for the quadrant.
Edit: if you are just looking to free the rudder enough to move the boat for haul out and repair, you could drop it an inch, but I'm not sure it will stay there as the rudder floats (unless water logged). Also, I would NOT drill another hole through the rudder shaft for the quadrant.
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