Emergency rudder

[fisherman]

Not to drift the lost rudder thread, the Audierne fishermen who fish for bass in the Raz du Sein have two rudders. There is a normal balanced rudder under the hull, steered from the wheel forward. When they are working they stand in the stern, so there is also a set of pintles and a simple transom hung stainless steel rudder with a tiller, the wheel left midships. When steered from the wheel this simply trails with no effect. They could have a second wheel position, but a tiller can be steered with your bum, leaving your hands free, and is probably cheaper.

Since rudder problems seem to occur regularly this would be, I think, a valid way to provide emergency steering if one was setting out on a deepwater voyage. All that's needed in place is the pintles, the spare rudder stowed under a floor somewhere, possibly in component parts for easy stowage.

 

[Tintin]

Not to drift the lost rudder thread, the Audierne fishermen who fish for bass in the Raz du Sein have two rudders. There is a normal balanced rudder under the hull, steered from the wheel forward. When they are working they stand in the stern, so there is also a set of pintles and a simple transom hung stainless steel rudder with a tiller, the wheel left midships. When steered from the wheel this simply trails with no effect. They could have a second wheel position, but a tiller can be steered with your bum, leaving your hands free, and is probably cheaper.

Since rudder problems seem to occur regularly this would be, I think, a valid way to provide emergency steering if one was setting out on a deepwater voyage. All that's needed in place is the pintles, the spare rudder stowed under a floor somewhere, possibly in component parts for easy stowage.

Now that sir is damn good idea and (for my money) the best, simplest and cheapest solution I've yet come across to this potential problem. I'm thinking that instead of a tiller a simple yoke and ropes (as per pilot gigs) may be easier still to stow.

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Since rudder problems seem to occur regularly this would be, I think, a valid way to provide emergency steering if one was setting out on a deepwater voyage. All that's needed in place is the pintles, the spare rudder stowed under a floor somewhere, possibly in component parts for easy stowage.

That is what is done on the long distance ocean racers. The emergency rudder is usually of the 'cassette' type where the blade can be slid up or down easily inside a case that is hung on the pintles. Should the blade snap, another board may be inserted as necessary. You do need a transom stern though, or somewhere reasonably vertical on which to fasten the pintles. Still trying to figure a solution for my 'new' boat that has a sloping transom that juts out beyond the end of the deck. (Centurion 32).

 

[theoldsalt]

The Centurion 32 has a counter stern not a transom.

 

[William_H]

Emergency rudder pintles

The primary requirement for emergency pintles would be a very low (as deep as possible )bottom pintle with a lot of sideways support. Perhaps this could be achieved by a vertical post which is supported sideways by bracing structure to the deck. And of course it needs to be braced fore and aft to take the drag.
A decent transom mounted rudder with tiller could be set up with a tiller pilot as alternative self steering.
Whatever you do make sure that any holes in the transom are well backed up and if possible will not allow a leak if the bolts are torn out. olewill

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

The Centurion 32 has a counter stern not a transom.

A rose, by any other name...

I would have preferred to call it retroussé because the surface is raked forward. A well-known example of a counter stern is that of the Titanic. Either way, the problem remains the same in that the raked surface is not ideal for mounting pintles.

 

[Poignard]

Another solution, although not a cheap one, is to have a Monitor (or similar) windvane. A kit is available to turn the system into an emergency rudder.

The self-steering function is then lost but at least the boat can be steered.

http://www.selfsteer.com/faqs/faq.php?ID=194