Rudder On or Off When Trailering?
- Thread starter GorillaToast
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Sorry about that K word. I've come to understand that word is not in the sailor's lexicon. ;-)Squidd said:OK....Never mind...
It's supposed to come off easily, but it doesn't. On my last boat, I just left it on, but it had more substantial gudgeons.GaryMayo said:
The "looking for the pieces" quote may just sway me to go to the extra trouble.
I always remove the rudder and outboard when trailering. Even though they are both heavy and PITA. I just don't think the stresses, bouncing, vibration from the road would be good for the transom.
We trailer with the rudder off and stowed in the cabin. I also take our outboard off when trailering. But when we're trailering, it's usually long distance, and I just don't want things hanging off the transom.
(Also, I did alotta work to make our mahogany rudder all clean and glossy. It's my baby)
For a short distance like 10 miles... unless the road is terriblly rough, I wouldn't be afraid to trailer with motor and rudder on the transom (and secured), as long as I can baby it by going under-speed and cautiously.
(Also, I did alotta work to make our mahogany rudder all clean and glossy. It's my baby)
For a short distance like 10 miles... unless the road is terriblly rough, I wouldn't be afraid to trailer with motor and rudder on the transom (and secured), as long as I can baby it by going under-speed and cautiously.
I always removed the rudder on my 73 C22. It wasn't difficult though. Still, the bouncing etc. from a trailer are stresses the gudgeons wouldn't see in the water. Worth the peace of mind to remove it. JMHO.
Rudder OFF
I'd be worrying about the goof behind texting or calling on the cell when I made a stop. It wouldn't take much of a hit to do major damage to the transom, plus the stresses on the transom while trailering seem to make it not worth while.
c_witch
I'd be worrying about the goof behind texting or calling on the cell when I made a stop. It wouldn't take much of a hit to do major damage to the transom, plus the stresses on the transom while trailering seem to make it not worth while.
c_witch
I had a buddy pick up my boat and drag it 650 km for me. I told him to make sure the motor and the rudder were in the cabin of the boat. (I gave him a detailed list.)
It showed up with both on the back and a trailer light dragging. Not to mention the only thing holding the boat to the trailer was gravity!
I will be removing the rudder and outboard when ever I go any distance more than up the ramp to the set up area.
It showed up with both on the back and a trailer light dragging. Not to mention the only thing holding the boat to the trailer was gravity!
I will be removing the rudder and outboard when ever I go any distance more than up the ramp to the set up area.
definitely off, there is not a lot of clearance between the rudder and the road if you go through a dip in the road, especially when the rudder is ten feet behind the axle.
I take my rudder off and stow it in the bed of my pick up truck. I leave my outboard on the bracket when I trailer. I usually tie it off to my stern rail for extra support.
I not only have my outboard clamped to my transom bracket but I also have two bolts holding it to the bracket, an 8' charging wire going through my inside transom connected to a terminal board under the lazarett cover. I've always owned and 8 hp Johnson and trailered my boat with it on the transom since the late 1980s and never had a problem.
If you have trouble with the pintles and gudgions, you need to correct it some how in order to make it easier to get your rudder on and off. They may be out of alignment or just need lubing. Whatever it takes you should correct it and stow your rudder in the back of your pickup or trunk of your car. I keep my tiller in the cabin of my boat with the bolt and wing nut for easy mounting.
I not only have my outboard clamped to my transom bracket but I also have two bolts holding it to the bracket, an 8' charging wire going through my inside transom connected to a terminal board under the lazarett cover. I've always owned and 8 hp Johnson and trailered my boat with it on the transom since the late 1980s and never had a problem.
If you have trouble with the pintles and gudgions, you need to correct it some how in order to make it easier to get your rudder on and off. They may be out of alignment or just need lubing. Whatever it takes you should correct it and stow your rudder in the back of your pickup or trunk of your car. I keep my tiller in the cabin of my boat with the bolt and wing nut for easy mounting.
Gorilla Toast;
I have probably trailered different sailboats on their trailer over two million miles in my life time. If you are planning to trailer particulaly long distances plus you are concerned, then by all means take the strong advice of many and remove your rudder.
There are some cases that it did not pay to remove the rudders and that was on for example the Hunter 260. I use to instruct my customers to swing the rudder to one direction all the way and tie if off to the base of the stern rail making sure the line was taunt without slack even though there was a pin to hold it up. Worked everytime for me except only once when I forgot to tie that rudder up. On the way to deliver the boat, a trucker honked and I pulled over. I had the most beautiful sawed off rudder due to the contact with the road surface. Thank goodness I had one in reserve to save the day.
crazy dave condon
I have probably trailered different sailboats on their trailer over two million miles in my life time. If you are planning to trailer particulaly long distances plus you are concerned, then by all means take the strong advice of many and remove your rudder.
There are some cases that it did not pay to remove the rudders and that was on for example the Hunter 260. I use to instruct my customers to swing the rudder to one direction all the way and tie if off to the base of the stern rail making sure the line was taunt without slack even though there was a pin to hold it up. Worked everytime for me except only once when I forgot to tie that rudder up. On the way to deliver the boat, a trucker honked and I pulled over. I had the most beautiful sawed off rudder due to the contact with the road surface. Thank goodness I had one in reserve to save the day.
crazy dave condon
I would ALWAYS remove the rudder when trailiering and whenever I leave the boat overnight. If the rudder is stowed below in the cabin there is no way it can get damaged or lost. Taking the rudder off before going ashore each night also means that you save having to paint it with antifoulant paint, plus reduces wear anf tear on the rudder and it's fittings.
Trailer boats tend to suffer much more wear and tear on the road than on the water, due to the bumps and general road vibrations and dust/dirt.
Trailer boats tend to suffer much more wear and tear on the road than on the water, due to the bumps and general road vibrations and dust/dirt.
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