Spare rudder for a Catalina 30

[Ken13531]

Does anyone carry a spare or emergency rudder for their C30 or similiar size boat.I have heard all kinds of horror stories of what happens when the rudder was lost.I participated in VicMaui race. All boats had to carry an emergency rudder. On the Valiant 40. It was a special rudder that mounted on the windvane steering mechanism.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

No spare

I would guess, that if you carried a spare rudder for your Catalina 30, you would be the only one in the world to do so. Often race boats have carbon fiber rudder posts and since weight is a consideration, rigs and components of the boat don't have a ton of overkill. Your C 30 has a lot of over kill. Besides, if you did have an extra rudder, where would you put it? In the V-Berth?

 

[sailortonyb]

Why not a spare mast?

maybwe even a spare diesel engine?That should also mean spare sails, spare water, fuel, spare septic tank, and oh, dont forget the spare keel. that could be important especially if the keel falls off before you are dismasted.Its nice to think we are safety conscious, but where do we draw the line?

 

[Capt Ron;-)]

Spares - Dares

Ken, Tony isn't as sarcastic as he sounds, but workin those rigs alla time...;-)No, Tonys right here folks do not carry a spare rudder, but there is no law nor ettiquutte that would preclude you doing so.Cruisers use to, and some still do, including me, carry heavy ply, a saw and screw just for an emergency repair for a rudder or a stove hatch, patch etc.This use to be common amoungst self-dependant cruisers.Need a whisker or spinniker pole too, but if you practice you can steer with sails alone or with warps but it is not very efficient.Make sure you rudder is very strong, keep extra parts aboard and an emergency tiller, don't use 'active' storm tactics; meaning, nail the helm, and rudder down tight, tight, and tight to leeward in a heavy blow.Annapolis Book of Seamanship teaches how to make a jury rudder too.

 

[Anchor Down]

Depends on Intended Use

Ken,Rudders do fail, and if you're far from shore/assistance, it can ruin your day.I'd be strongly biased toward a windvane that uses an independent rudder, instead of trim tabs or just lines to your steering system to turn the boat's rudder.These types of self-steering systems usually meet the requirement for a spare rudder. This will preclude the need to carry the long strut necessary to rig an emergency rudder over the stern with lines (usually a bomb-proof pivot point lashed off to the stern cleats, and some type of block/tackle on the pivot arm forward, which is effectively the "tiller."And that's not mentioning the "rudder" surface that must be fabricated, lowered into the water, and then kept there, and also prevented from twisting away, so that it's useful.A windvane with it's own rudder looks very attractive from my perspective, esp. considering that if you're going offshore, it's already a very useful piece of everyday equipment.Jeff