No rudder

[Cognac]

I have a Manta 19 that needs a new rudder. In the meantime im happy to do some motoring but want to know what peoples experiences are of motoring on a 4hp outboard with no rudder.

The plan is to temporarily move the outboard into the centre of the tansom fitting plates onto the holes left by the pintle and gudgeon as its limited in its turning due to being on the port side of the transom.

Would the outboard have enough power to manouvere within the marina to the same degree that the rudder does.

 

[ylop]

Would the outboard have enough power to manouvere within the marina to the same degree that the rudder does.

It requires a slightly different technique. With a rudder you need the boat moving to get steerage, but once moving you can continue to steer after the engine is in neutral. With only an OB you will get little “rudder effect” from the engine leg alone so have to use the directional thrust of the engine. A positive advantage is you can steer immediately from stationary, on the otherhand as you come in to a berth you need to apply power to steer and that maybe counter intuitive to what you are used to.

 

[William_H]

I would suggest you continue to use the O/B in the correct position on port side of transom. I think you will soon decide that a rudder is desirable and can make a boat really maneuverable with both in concert. Rudder not so hard to build. give it plenty of balance and very deep. ol'will

 

[Stemar]

I'm with William, make yourself a rudder. There are plenty of illustrations online that will give you the shape and size relative to the boat, if not the precise measurements. I'd go for marine ply with a foil shape, covered with epoxy and a couple of layers of glass cloth.

 

[chriscallender]

I have a Manta 19 that needs a new rudder. In the meantime im happy to do some motoring but want to know what peoples experiences are of motoring on a 4hp outboard with no rudder.

The plan is to temporarily move the outboard into the centre of the tansom fitting plates onto the holes left by the pintle and gudgeon as its limited in its turning due to being on the port side of the transom.

Would the outboard have enough power to manouvere within the marina to the same degree that the rudder does.

A long time ago I had a trailer sailer where the rudder split vertically in two while I was sailing. When I tried to turn the forward half went one way and the rear half the other so it was fairly much useless for steering but the remains may have given me some stability in a straight line, i dont know.

The outcome anyway was that I was able to get back from the Solent and into the Hamble using the engine as you describe and it
even managed to sail quite well with the engine more or less at tickover most of the time and just using a little bit of throttle when I needed it to be more effective. Under power with no sails it was totally fine. I'm pretty sure the engine was mounted well off centre but it didn't cause a massive problem. The wind was blowing a hooley, this and the fact that I busted the rudder might just be related ;-).

So yes, it worked OK for me even in fairly challenging circumstances. Loosing the rudder on an outboard sailing boat wasn't a very big deal. I think you'll be able to motor to wherever you want to go just fine. On the other hand its not exactly the authentic sailing experience and you will enjoy the boat a lot more when you get it fixed. So that would be my priority.

Chris

 

[rogerthebodger]

You could always fit a rudder to the outboard motor

I did something similar on a outboard driven canal boat

 

[LittleSister]

You could fairly easily make a temporary rudder - would probably be no more work than what you describe to reposition the outboard, which will all be wasted work and have to be undone again later. This temporary rudder will allow you to use the boat while you make, or have made for you, a good rudder.

Such a temporary rudder could be done with cheap (non-marine) materials, doesn't have to be varnished/painted etc., and doesn't have to be the exact shape as the original, just as long as the basic dimensions are about right.

 

[Minerva]

I bet if you trawl eBay etc you’ll find a dinghy rudder for a bigger dinghy; osprey/fireball/rs400 etc for not too much money you could make work

 

[Cognac]

Thanks all, food for thought and ive still got a couple of weeks until the boat is lifted back in the water.