Bent Rudder Post

[Greg8932]

My boat a, 2006 Catalina 320, was grounded and the rudder driven up into the hull where it was turned and scraped a groove in the underside. The post was obviously bent badly. The rudder was dropped and the post straightened and damage to hull, keel and rudder was repaired. An insurance surveyor was involved. The boat was returned to service. The steering is now terrible. I am told that the gland was repacked and need to wear in etc. etc.

Nigel Calder pg 630 Boatowner’s Mechanical an Electrical Manual 3rd Edition 2005, states that a hollow tube post should never be straightened only replaced. And that a sold post can be straightened if not bent too badly.

Question 1. What type of post does a Catalina 320 (Edson steering) have?

Question 2. The surveyor is reluctant to give a written report on the damage and repair. What are my rights to getting this?

Question 3. I feel that the rudder and post should be replaced. If the insurance company considers this repair complete and balks at redoing this repair, what is my recourse?

 

[Ross]

First of all a more diffinitive discription of the steering problem would be helpful. Is it rough in the travel? Is there too much play between the wheel and the response? Does it steer the same port and starboard or left and right? Is there viabration in the wheel?

 

[Steve Dion]

I would contact the insurance company and give them this report. I would have to agree that the rudder should have been replaced, but the insurance company is looking to save a couple of bucks. Now they will probably need to buy you a new rudder after spending several hundred to have a bungled repair.

 

[Allan R]

Question 2. The surveyor is reluctant to give a written report on the damage and repair. What are my rights to getting this?

I would think any reputable surveyor would not hesitate to provide a written report. I have not dealt with many surveyors, but have dealt with quite a few insurance adjustors and have always found this to be the case.

 

[Bill]

Straightened Post?

How do you straighten a bent post and restore it to its original shape and strenght? Not to sure that is doable. I would not accept it. Have friends who bent a rudder post on a 320 last year and it required shipping in a new post and rudder assembly from Catalina, took a bit of time. Why not contact Catalina and see what they have to say about the feasibility of straightening a rudder post?

 

[tommays]

When you bend a post you stretch the leading edge of the post the metal will allways be stretched and weakened no matter how you wack it

 

[Chris Burti]

OK, here is one answer from actual experience...Our rudder post was bent extracting Commitment out of a cypress swamp after she broke loose in Ophelia.

The rudder post on the 320 is a thick section of SS tubing that looks at least to be the equivalent of Schedule-80 pipe.

I talked with Frank Butler personally concerning ours. The rudder post was bent 3" out of plumb. He confirmed that the post could be cut, sleeved internally and welded as a satisfactory repair.

However, a brand new rudder was $1300, including shipping, and immediately available...vs $500-600 and 3-6 weeks for a machine shop repair. Considering the peace of mind inherent in a factory replacement, it was a no-brainer for me to replace it.

That said, I really had no real issues concerning strength in going with a repair, but I was concerned that if it was not perfectly straight, it would continue to bind in the rudder tube as yours is apparently doing.

If you go with a new rudder, the post will need to be drilled for the bolt that locks the emergency rudder and that may have to be done in a machine shop (as mine was) due to the thickness of the tubing.

 

[Greg8932]

Answers to queries

First of all a more diffinitive discription of the steering problem would be helpful. Is it rough in the travel? Is there too much play between the wheel and the response? Does it steer the same port and starboard or left and right? Is there viabration in the wheel?

Thanks for the quick response. No vibration in the wheel. She seems to steer the same on port or starboard. Not rough in the travel just very stiff. I re-inspected and the cable was considerably loose likely giving the play (dead zone). The cable has been tightened and has taken most of this play out. Still stiff to steer.

 

[Ross]

Re: Answers to queries

Stiff to steer is not always a minus. My steering is stiff by design and the boat holds course well if I leave the wheel for a few secconds or perhaps more. I can motor for minutes at a time without touching the wheel.

 

[Steph]

Bent my post- rudder replaced

I hit something and bent my rudder post (Cal-28) just like you where the rudder was rubbing the hull. The insurance company, surveyor, manufacturer of the rudder (Fosse) and contractor all agreed that it should be replaced and they did. It was a 2" diameter hollow post. From what they told me that the post can not be straighted perfectly, I insisted on a new rudder and they paid for it. Good luck.