Lock your rudder off in a current?

[Nostrodamus]

Ok, stop the groaning and moaning and those big sighs but I seem to have found my way back on here.

As I am back I might as well ask one of those stupid questions.

If you are in one place for a while and you have either a current or surge coming in is it best to lock your rudder in one position or let it go with the flow?

If you do lock it which way.. central or to one side?

It's good to be back.. how long it will last I don't know!!

 

[prv]

Certainly if the current is from astern you need to lock the rudder amidships rather than have it bouncing off the stops. If it's from ahead it's less vital, but I still would.

Pete

 

[fireball]

On a swinging mooring all summer I lock mine centrally ... Otherwise it can just bang about ...

 

[Deleted member 36384]

I tend to lock my wheel with the rudder centred when moored to a buoy or anchor. I have used the rudder at anchor to try and counter the bow blowing off when the tide has been flowing strong but it didn't work; fin keel Sigma 33. Secured along side with a current / surge I would still want to lock off the rudder in the central position to obviously stop it from being forced against a stop. However, the force on the rudder isn't the issue, its debris getting trapped between the top of the blade and the underside of the hull. On my rudder when its centralised, the top of the blade is close to a ruddr shaped profile bonded into the underside of the hull. No debris of significant size can get into this gap.

 

[johnalison]

Although I usually tie mine centrally, there are times when locking at an angle is better, such as with wind-against-tide, when the boat may settle down more steadily.

 

[Greenheart]

Locking the rudder off-centre mustn't do the hangings any good, surely? I know they're built to last, but effectively you'd be asking the rudder to endure constant hard-over pressure, (without the relief it enjoys when the boat actually answers the helm) for however long the tide runs?

 

[macd]

If anchored in a fast-flowing river (such as the Guadiana), putting the tiller over causes the boat to veer a long way -- handy for avoiding rafts of bamboo coming down the river, but just as good for clouting boats anchored abeam. So if no-one's on watch, helm amidships, also for the reasons related by BlowingOldBoots.

I'm presuming your enquiry is in respect of anchoring/single moorings where the boat would normally lie to the stream

 

[Xcinquemila]

An other thought and it does work at time...
Take a heading of the current, put you autopilot on, obviously comment will come, but guys, I have solar power.
... let the discussion ..>>>>

 

[Greenheart]

...in a fast-flowing river (such as the Guadiana), putting the tiller over (is) handy for avoiding rafts of bamboo coming down the river...

Hadn't heard of the Guadiana till now. But are there really rafts of bamboo drifting along rivers in southern Spain? I was visualising colourfully-attired Caribbean crews with huge stacks of bananas on their way to a Tesco banana-depot...

 

[shannon9]

Not a stupid question at all.

I had the same dilemma recently when the wind picked up unexpectedly and all the windows and doors in our house started to bang and crash. One of them was actually torn off its hinges.

Thank God for the old guy in B&Q who answered the phone. He had experience of my problem, something the younger members of staff sometimes don't have.

He recommended shutting the doors and windows in ANY breeze likely to cause them to slam around which is not dissimilar to your concern.

THANK YOU B&Q !

As an aside, we are currently getting a lot of smoke in our lounge when I light our log fire.

Do you think we need a chimney?

 

[Greenheart]

Not a stupid question at all...Do you think we need a chimney?

Was that an attempt at humour?

I've been looking at old dinghies, many of which seem to have non-standard pintle & gudgeon arrangements on their rudder stocks. How on earth does the DIY shed-dwelling sailor go about building a rudder linkage which lasts and doesn't look awful?

 

[Wansworth]

Was that an attempt at humour?

I've been looking at old dinghies, many of which seem to have non-standard pintle & gudgeon arrangements on their rudder stocks. How on earth does the DIY shed-dwelling sailor go about building a rudder linkage which lasts and doesn't look awful?

Look thru box of gubbins.It will have all the parts youneed but you never saw until your imagination takes hold

 

[Nostrodamus]

When I asked this question I wasn't so much concerned about anchoring.
It is more to do with a pontoon that lays side on to the current.
Obviously the best way would be to swing the rudder over with each tide but that is impractical.
Locking it midway must put it under constant stress.
Would it not be better in this case just to let it swing.....
I don't know and hence why I asked the question.

 

[Greenheart]

How about letting it swing, but with a soft spongey buffer each side of the rudder stock, to prevent it ramming hard over? Or better still, bungees attached to the tiller end so it'll swing freely amidships but tighten up as the tide presses the rudder hard over in either direction...

...don't say you've got wheel steering?

 

[GrahamM376]

Hadn't heard of the Guadiana till now. But are there really rafts of bamboo drifting along rivers in southern Spain? I was visualising colourfully-attired Caribbean crews with huge stacks of bananas on their way to a Tesco banana-depot...

Mainly reeds but yes lots of them, trees as well. No bananas but figs, almonds, oranges, lemons, vines etc all grown nearby.

 

[nimbusgb]

My boat sheers about a lot in a breeze and the modified, removable wheel does not have a hub lock. The sheering causes t the rudder to come up against the stops.

I must work out a way of locking the rudder somehow short of getting the emergency tiller out. ��

 

[TQA]

Always lock mine.

 

[WoodyP]

From the experience of another, who bent his rudder stock by locking the rudder lashed amid ships, I think a better solution is to use bungy ties either side so that there can be a bit of give if needed.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

From the experience of another, who bent his rudder stock by locking the rudder lashed amid ships ......

What caused the shaft to bend, just the water pressure?

 

[Babylon]

Moored fore and aft on a tidal river (or tied up alongside) there's no question about it: lash the tiller amidships.

At anchor or hanging off a single buoy, no need to lash or lock the tiller.

PS Moan, sigh, splutter... welcome back again!