While sailing I can feel some Not so good vibrations in my tiller. Think they are coming from the rudder pins where it is attatched to the stern. Think there is some play in the pins and brackets on the stern. Any ideas of how to remedy this? thanks Evan
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Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Is it new?
Evan - First, has anything changed? Or has the vibration always been there? Vibration probably means something is unfair or unblanced. I'd try fairing the blade, particularly the exit before worrying about the pins. Even if its not the answer it will make your rudder more efficient. I faired mine last winter and the difference was immediate. No more vibration and it now takes less rudder to acomplish a given amount of stearing, which is, of course, faster. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Evan - First, has anything changed? Or has the vibration always been there? Vibration probably means something is unfair or unblanced. I'd try fairing the blade, particularly the exit before worrying about the pins. Even if its not the answer it will make your rudder more efficient. I faired mine last winter and the difference was immediate. No more vibration and it now takes less rudder to acomplish a given amount of stearing, which is, of course, faster. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
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Don Evans
Vibration?
Evan, by vibration, do you mean a flutter, or shimmy in the rudder? I have this effect under certain RPM of the diesel. Not sure if your 272 has one or an outboard, but it could be prop wash as it flows past the blade. This is normal. There should be next to no movement in the gudgeon hole. If there is I'd say the hole has enlarged due to wear and a replacement would be in order. Don
Evan, by vibration, do you mean a flutter, or shimmy in the rudder? I have this effect under certain RPM of the diesel. Not sure if your 272 has one or an outboard, but it could be prop wash as it flows past the blade. This is normal. There should be next to no movement in the gudgeon hole. If there is I'd say the hole has enlarged due to wear and a replacement would be in order. Don
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Dean Gustafson
Keel induced rudder vibration
Evan I don't know if this is pertinent but I have an O'Day 28. The bottom of the keel was covered with growth because the diver was not cleaning it. The first symtom was vibration in the rudder. Eventually the entire boat had a vibration. Everyone was baffled until we hauled the boat. Dean
Evan I don't know if this is pertinent but I have an O'Day 28. The bottom of the keel was covered with growth because the diver was not cleaning it. The first symtom was vibration in the rudder. Eventually the entire boat had a vibration. Everyone was baffled until we hauled the boat. Dean
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Tom Ehmke
I second Dean
My 272 has the same vibration when under power (Diesel-in board). Prop wash past the transom-mounted rudder sounds right. I don't notice it at all under sail. There can be play between the tiller and rudder mount if the rudder has been compressed by the tiller clamp; or if over-tightening compresses the pintle fittings, there can be play between the pintle straps and the rudder. By the way, I'm on my third lower pintle fitting in three years. Two years ago the lower pintle broke while I was underway on a glorious afternoon resulting in total loss of control and a tow. Just last week the replacement pintle fitting broke (not yet two years old) while I was underway on a glorious afternoon. I was able to limp in by lashing the rudder to the pintle pin. Ordered a third set (upper and lower) from Rudy at D&R Marine. This time I will have some reinforcing welded to both before using them as spares. I think that the pintle fitting is underdesigned. Both times it broke where the strap meets the pintle support bracket. Anyone else have a similar problem? Tom
My 272 has the same vibration when under power (Diesel-in board). Prop wash past the transom-mounted rudder sounds right. I don't notice it at all under sail. There can be play between the tiller and rudder mount if the rudder has been compressed by the tiller clamp; or if over-tightening compresses the pintle fittings, there can be play between the pintle straps and the rudder. By the way, I'm on my third lower pintle fitting in three years. Two years ago the lower pintle broke while I was underway on a glorious afternoon resulting in total loss of control and a tow. Just last week the replacement pintle fitting broke (not yet two years old) while I was underway on a glorious afternoon. I was able to limp in by lashing the rudder to the pintle pin. Ordered a third set (upper and lower) from Rudy at D&R Marine. This time I will have some reinforcing welded to both before using them as spares. I think that the pintle fitting is underdesigned. Both times it broke where the strap meets the pintle support bracket. Anyone else have a similar problem? Tom
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Vic
stepping up
one of the owners in Fl said he upgraded the size of the lower pintal assembly ... I saw a bunch in the local West Marine Store. might be better than trying to weld ... don't know what that does to the tempering of the steel.
one of the owners in Fl said he upgraded the size of the lower pintal assembly ... I saw a bunch in the local West Marine Store. might be better than trying to weld ... don't know what that does to the tempering of the steel.
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Tom Ehmke
Question for Vic
I had a welder weld the broken lower pintle at the marina while I was on Pelee Island. He bent a piece of stainless steel rod and after refastening the strap, reinforced the fitting by welding the rod to the front of the strap and pintle assembly. It held when I sailed in last Tuesday. I was not aware that welding stainless steel would weaken it. The straps I bought from DandR are all welded. Is this a serious problem? Matching The diameter of the pintle would be the only concern I would have about buying a stronger pintle from a marine supplier. Also, the holes in the rudder would probably have to be redrilled. Thanks for the suggestion. Tom
I had a welder weld the broken lower pintle at the marina while I was on Pelee Island. He bent a piece of stainless steel rod and after refastening the strap, reinforced the fitting by welding the rod to the front of the strap and pintle assembly. It held when I sailed in last Tuesday. I was not aware that welding stainless steel would weaken it. The straps I bought from DandR are all welded. Is this a serious problem? Matching The diameter of the pintle would be the only concern I would have about buying a stronger pintle from a marine supplier. Also, the holes in the rudder would probably have to be redrilled. Thanks for the suggestion. Tom
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Vic
welding done right is probably no problem ...
but if my 272 assembly starts to look weak I will go up in size and strength before i would replace the part with one that seems to be proven as underdesigned ... my 1989 lower pintle looks good but i have a wheel which doesn't allow as much stress on the pintle assembly ... you just don't have as full range of movement as with the tiller. When you put the tiller hard over you can put a lot of pressure on the lower unit ... now that I think about it most of the people who seem to have pintle 272 problems have tillers or grounding accidents that break the bottom pintle. The wheel may cut as much as a third of the rudder swing off ... and I found this surprising because the boat handles well with the wheel. i am going to have to borrow a tiller 272 to see if it does handle better.
but if my 272 assembly starts to look weak I will go up in size and strength before i would replace the part with one that seems to be proven as underdesigned ... my 1989 lower pintle looks good but i have a wheel which doesn't allow as much stress on the pintle assembly ... you just don't have as full range of movement as with the tiller. When you put the tiller hard over you can put a lot of pressure on the lower unit ... now that I think about it most of the people who seem to have pintle 272 problems have tillers or grounding accidents that break the bottom pintle. The wheel may cut as much as a third of the rudder swing off ... and I found this surprising because the boat handles well with the wheel. i am going to have to borrow a tiller 272 to see if it does handle better.
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