What position do you leave rudder

[Ken Honeycutt]

When moored or anchored?

Could be a dumb question but I noticed when I lock my rudder amidships that it gets hammered whenever a power boat wake or sudden wind gust appears. Thinking this can't be good for the mechanicals. I've started leaving it up against one of the rudder stops. Any bad experiences doing this?

 

[Tim R.]

I would consider that worse. Now when you get hit with a wake it still puts enormous strain on the cables, etc but also hammers the stop. And it shouldn't matter which side the wake hits as there will be a reaction to the initial action forcing the rudder in the opposite direction.

 

[Ken Honeycutt]

Tim,

What if I have the wheel locked down against the stop so that the rudder doesn't move? Or at least only moves slightly in the direction against the movement of the boat.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

I would agree with Tim. At least with the rudder mid-ship, it can give; not so if it is against the stop. By allowing it to "give", you reduce the stress

 

[Ken Honeycutt]

One of the reasons I'm asking this is because the darn noise of the rudder hitting the wheel stop at night started keeping me awake. Guess there's always a tradeoff.

 

[sailingdog]

I'd also point out that if the rudder is hard over and you experience any current, the rudder will push the boat's stern aside and make the boat horse at anchor worse than if it were centered.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

One of the reasons I'm asking this is because the darn noise of the rudder hitting the wheel stop at night started keeping me awake. Guess there's always a tradeoff.

A little Crown Royal will fix that

 

[Rich Stidger]

Well I don't have a picture, but what I do is first center the wheel, and then wrap a bungy cord around my U-shaped hand-hold in front of the wheel and then route the bungy around each side of the wheel, around spokes at 11 & 2 o'clock and connect the bungy ends together.

I leave the wheel brake off so that the wheel is free to wiggle back & forth but the bungy will return it to center.

I started using this method to eliminate the squeak that the wheel brake made when the boat rocked at anchor.

 

[Ken Honeycutt]

Got a case of assorted Sam Adams last weekend - guess I'll try that for starters this weekend.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'll just keep it amidships and deal with it.

Enjoy your 4th. I'm taking an early quit today and heading for the boat! Taking a week off and cruising up the Michigan East coast.

 

[tsmwebb]

I generally lock mine on center-line -- it's one less think to worry about if you have to make a quick exit. But, when there is wind v current there can be times when the boat jibes and veers badly when the rudder is amidships and putting the rudder over can help with that. Like many anchoring issues, you need to take into account what your neighbors are doing.

Boat wakes slapping on the rudder really shouldn't be a structural worry. The "mechanicals" are designed to take much larger loads.

--Tom.

 

[Ken Honeycutt]

Rich,

That sounds like a good solution. Thanks!

 

[Benny]

Much to do about nothing! I center the wheel and lock the brake.

 

[Stu Jackson]

The stress a rudder and the wheel system get when sailing is gotta be far bigger than what it gets at anchor. Rich's bungee idea sounds very good.

 

[Ken Honeycutt]

Much to do about nothing! I center the wheel and lock the brake.

Used to work for me until I started getting some play in the rudder. I quarantee hearing "thump..thump...thump.." for a few hours while trying to sleep is no fun unless you're like my wife and nothing bothers you.

 

[tsmwebb]

Used to work for me until I started getting some play in the rudder. I quarantee hearing "thump..thump...thump.." for a few hours while trying to sleep is no fun unless you're like my wife and nothing bothers you.

Given that, I'm thinking the answer is to get the play out of the system...

--Tom.

 

[bffatcat]

center the rudder ?

Most prudent sailors center the rudder amid ships. Either by locking the wheel or by tying the tiller amid ships. If you hear clunking noises with the rudder centered amid ships its usually an
indicator that something is loose or worn down and needs attention

 

[Ken Honeycutt]

Most prudent sailors center the rudder amid ships. Either by locking the wheel or by tying the tiller amid ships. If you hear clunking noises with the rudder centered amid ships its usually an
indicator that something is loose or worn down and needs attention

This is a Lewmar direct drive unit that Hunter has started installing. Don't think there is anything really wrong with the unit. The play is very minimal, much like the rack and pinion steering on a car. It's just enough to cause the noise through the aft cabin when the wheel hits against the stop. I like Rich's idea of the bungy cords. When I'm away from the boat I'll just leave it amidships with the wheel lock. No big deal.

 

[DougM]

I'm curious... Why do you lock the rudder at all? I leave mine amidships and it rarely, if ever, moves while the boat is moored.

 

[som1335]

An old salt in my harbor suggests the following based on the principle that it mimics sailing and underway loads on the boat and spreads the strain on the cleats. Tried it anddon't see much difference except the boat doesn't point the same direction as all the other moored boats around. Not enough difference to risk collision, but different.

"Bring the pennant rope in on the port side of the boat behind the cleat then across the deck to be secured to the starboard cleat"

Thoughts?
Mike

 

[Ross]

All boats make noises when at anchor. Just learn what they are and what they mean. It is the unusual noise that makes me sit up. I center my rudder and leave the wheel free.