Internal rudder stops?

[Paul Nebeling]

I'm working on a small problem of no rudder stops for my radial wheel on my 1978 Hunter 27 and someone suggested that the stops may have been built into the boat before the wheel was added.To test this myself would involve disconnecting the steering wire and chain from the radial wheel. I would rather ask first and see if anyone else knows the answer to this.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Rudder stops.

You are saying that there is no stop peg on the radial wheel as seen in the Related Link? On my H37C that peg screws into the wheel and can be removed. Did yours loosen and fall out?Or is the peg there but the wooden stops that should restrict a turn are missing? On my boat those are just a couple of short(4") pieces of 2x4 screwed to the bearing shelf. The peg on the wheel hits that when the rudder is at about 75 degrees(a guess). At the steering wheel that is about one and one-fifth revolutions from centered to a left or right stop.

 

[Paul Nebeling]

What's back there at the rudder post

The post on the radial wheel is there, but there is nothing to stop it. The 2x4 idea (or maybe a 4x4) glassed into the underside of the cocpit floor is starting to sound real nice.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Something substantial.

I have firsthand experience unfortunately. It resulted in my first BoatUS tow expense. A crewmember did a hard turn and the stop pin broke through the wooden stop and jammed. It was my first year with the boat and I did not have a clue what had happened. Given time I did know where to look but we were about 50 yards off of rocks on a lee shore! So anchor we did.Not sure what your options are. I am in the process of strengthening the plywood bearing shelf. Then I think I will use some heavy angle iron to fabricate a much better stop. Make yours strong!

 

[David Foster]

Wheel is probably an add-on

for a '78 model. So it might never have been set up right to start with.David

 

[Paul Nebeling]

No surprise there

There's not a whole lot of room to squeeze by the wheel in the cockpit either. Given some of the other things I have found over the years I've owned this boat, it wouldn't surprise me.