Emergency steering

[oldbilbo]

I'm considering fitting a facility for one form of emergency steering, and invite comment. The intention is to fit an eyebolt with a corresponding eyenut through the rudder ( see below ) at about half-height and one-third span from the trailing edge. This would be fitted through a s/s tube epoxied in place, and with over-sized s/s washers, to prevent compression damage.

The plan is, in event of tiller failure and/or failure of the top of the rudder post onto which the tiller clamps, that control lines be secured by snaplinks to the two eyes, which are then led diagonally via blocks on the toerails further forward and so to a 'whipstaff' control lever in the cockpit. An existing double-ended spinnaker pole, with sheave blocks slung from both ends, could be secured across the cockpit in front of the sheet winches to give a better lead.

Of course there are limitations and constraints with that arrangement - which was once common practice on sailing ships. Attachment of the lines would need to be done at the first sign of tiller problems and in any event in moderate sea conditions, for it would entail someone going over the side. Any other considerations....?

 

[prv]

Obviously it will add a small amount of drag.

I've heard the idea suggested before, though usually with a hole drilled through a wooden rudder rather than eyebolts added.

Pete

 

[Tranona]

It would work. Typical of the sort of thing you would see in a 50 year old book on preparing boats for a blue water voyage, but guess rarely actually done and even more rarely actually used. Think I would want to pay attention to making sure my rudder stock and tiller did not break before putting eye bolts on the rudder!

 

[Boreades]

Sounds good. I take it you have a member of crew ready and willing to dive over the side and attached the snaphooks? It might be good to do some practice drills somewhere fairly safe (say the Tamar river) so they can desensitise to the effects of cold moving water around them. Before moving onto practicing in open waters. I would offer my children, but first I would have to get them out of their beds.

 

[alahol2]

A friend has a similar rudder profile. He has cut a slot into the trailing edge of the rudder leading upwards at 45 deg. The idea is that a loop of rope with several knots is dropped over the stern and dragged up the rudder until it slips into the slot. The rope is then used similarly to the way you describe.
He's tried it in benign conditions successfully and is sanguine about using it in less than ideal conditions.

Edit: Thinking about it some more, I'm fairly sure he modified the system to a short length of chain with ropes spliced on either end. The chain is supposed to slip into the slot, a bit like a chain hook.

 

[William_H]

I like Alahol2 idea much better than eye bolts. I think also that attaching the rope might be easier than getting in the water to attach snap shackles. I think a weighted wire might be more easily managed when the boat is moving than a rope. But principle seems good. good luck olewill