Bent rudder post on my Catalina 27

Jun 27, 2010
2
catalina 27, 25 Lake Thunderbird, OK
We were backing away from a dock when we hit something hard. Now the tiller turns to starboard, but not to port at all. I am going to beach the boat Saturday to check damage and maybe drop the rudder. Anything I need to be careful about? (Besides loosing the rudder)
 

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Jan 1, 2006
7,040
Slickcraft 26 Sailfish
Rudders mostly float - mostly. Almost all production boats have the rudder tube above the water line. If the boat were heeled excessively you might defeat that safeguard. You shouldn't need to heel it at all really. I'm guessing the rudder stock bent. One way the rudder can turn. The other it can't because the body of the rudder hits the hull - or some variation of that. Anyway it needs to come off the boat. A machine shop may be able to straighten it. Or not :(. Of course you need to be able to return to your dock without a rudder. Maybe a dink tow?
 

Dave Groshong

SBO Staff
Staff member
Jan 25, 2007
1,864
Catalina 22 Seattle
If necessary after you inspect it, we offer a new HDPE rudder (High Density plastic) with stainless steel shaft for $1399