I Want to set up for single handling

[Rag Doll]

Yes. I'll pull my cover and take some pictures of how mine is set up

I have removed more of the epoxy material and I am down 4 inches from the top of the 2" Stainless Steel Rudder Post and still no pins for the emergency tiller. I am surprized the tube was filled with epoxy. I sure would be in for a BIG surprize if I needed the Emergency Tiller. Would the pin be lower down the tube then the 4 inches I am at right now? I need help!

 

[DeniseO30]

wow.. so sorry they filled it on you. It's not real far down maybe an inch or two I'll look tomorrow. You may need to drill out the epoxy

 

[Cherie320]

Are there holes through the rudder shaft about 1-2 inches from the top? It' possible that the pins were removed and never replaced. Maybe the PO added epoxy to stop a leak or strengthen the shaft. You need to take some pictures of what you have and compare them to pictures of a similar boat. You might also investigate how the rudder shaft is mounted in the lazarette. Is there a stuffing gland that seals the shaft from the interior of the boat? Is there a spacer that positions the steering yoke above the stuffing gland?

No need to have terror when sailing. Reef soon, often, and with authority. When single handing you must plan ahead, have some way to effectively self steer, and be agressive about finding rigging solutions that make your boat/sail handling easy.

Fair winds

 

[Tally Ho]

Thank you for the input. I know you must have alot of heavy wind sail being from the San Francisco Bay area. Yours and Denis's help has been very informative. I am just trying to cover all the bases to make sure I am thinking all possibilities through. My next move after the Rudder Emergency Tiller resolution will be Jack Lines to tie off to with a lanyard. I understand that they should not run completely to the stern. Then I must figure out a way to get back on board should I go over the side (God Forbid). When you single handle do you have a trailing line in the water and boarding ladder down while sailing and not under power?

I have experimented trailing a line behind for self-recovery (had my son at the helm while I faked a MOB)....trailed 50 foot of rope from my life sling...was able to get to the rope easy enough as the boat sailed along around 4 kts....but pulling my body through the water was much harder than I thought....The thin poly rope cut into my hands.

I have upgraded to an old halyard and I tied knots every foot or so to aid in pulling myself up. Plan another test this summer (but need to wait for Lake Michigan water to warm up a bit.

I have a walk-thru transom and can reach my ladder to pull it down from the water, so that is not an issue for me.

I single-hand quite often, I find a furling jib, lazy jacks and jiffy reef on my main, and auto-pilot to hold course or steer through a tack as my most important equipment (and my auto-inflating life jacket in case I get knocked out and off the boat ;-)

Greg

 

[Rag Doll]

Yes. I'll pull my cover and take some pictures of how mine is set up

No Need for the Photo's I have finally arrived at the Emergency Tiller Pin. It was 6 inches down from the top of the rudder shaft. It really surprized me that this pin would have been embeded in epoxy all the way from the top of the shaft. I also thought the pin would have been placed going fore and aft but it wasn't. It was at approximately 20 degree's off to Starboard. I will just make a New emergency tiller to fit what I have. This made my day!

I appreciate everyones help and wish you all a Safe and Enjoyable Sailing Season.

Rag Doll

 

[Rag Doll]

wow.. so sorry they filled it on you. It's not real far down maybe an inch or two I'll look tomorrow. You may need to drill out the epoxy

Denise

That's exactly what I was doing (drilling & chipping)and finally found it 6" down from the top. I was affraid they forgot to install it.

I think I know why the lower section below the Pedistal Steering Quad has a Grease fitting. My suspision is that the grease acts as a water stop for the lower section of the rudder shaft tube since that tube had to be cut to install the Quad. I now know that this is an important part of spring launch or water can work its way up the tube.

Thank you for all your information. This web site has been extreemly helpful for me.

 

[DeniseO30]

I looked yesterday at mine. the cross pin is right near the top! guess they did something different with your boat's em tiller. The pin needs to be off center so it doesn't hit the wheel on my boat. Or at least that seems why. We, well , (groan) I had to crawl in to grease the post on my boat last week. the tube ends way high above the water line so I don't think a packing box was ever needed like on other boats.