Outdrive as a rudder

[lanason]

I want to mount a rudder onto a volvo 280 outdrive leg.
The objective being that it will give better steering at slow speeds - or can be used with the aux engine on purely as a rudder to steer the boat. I only intend to use on rivers.
I saw them years ago - they are like a blade that hangs off the back of the outdrive and in line with the prop.

Is this a good idea and if so where can I buy one ???

Adrian )
"yellow hull - called Court Jester - Have you seen her ??"

 

[ToMo]

Oooh Sandra darrrling! so you've been and gone and done it then?
<BG>...and where's my pics?
TôMö

 

[Guest]

If you do a search for "Ruddersafe" on this forum you should get the idea of price/performance of a commercial item.

If you only intend to use the device for slow speeds I cant see a lot wrong with just bolting a lump of aluminium onto your outdrive leg (someone might well tell you this will cause the whole outdrive to dissolve due to disimilar metals etc.)

 

[byron]

Hobbs of Henley should have them, sorry I don't have the number. Also Sheridan Line of Moulsford may have them. I am told that they can be a problem if used at high speeds, Hobbs will explain why, maybe its a question of stresses.

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My wife has not given me permission to express any opinion here

 

[andyball]

com**ss sell them too, or one of the glossy catalogues,anyway.

 

[Margem]

Made mine out of a piece of Marine ply bevelled the leading edge and bolted it on thinking that'l last a season, 4 years later its still as good as new, with no conflicting metals and no cost.

 

[bernard_foster]

Have seen many of these items, produced as a two fold object, they aid in slow speed steering and also protect your prop, do not have one on my 100 series leg, as trying to keep it stock. would help though, as the speed limit on the broads is 4mph,

 

[numenius]

When I bought my boat from Nationwide just over a year ago, I noticed absolute loads of these on lots of boats in the yard. I don't think any that we saw looked bought actually, I think they were all homemade. Never having had an outdrive before then, we were curious as to what they were for. On first coming onto my mooring (obviouslyat low speed) and discovering how different an outdrive handles, I discovered why! Being a seaboat though, we've never fitted one, but it sure would make life alittle easier when getting onto the mooring.

http://members.lycos.co.uk/boaty1965/index.htm

 

[Guest]

The "Ruddersafe" is a twin bladed device that fixes to the outdrive, over 12 knotts it flips up out of the water, to avoid handling problems at speed, then down again as you slow down. They help a bit and cost about £170. I have seen them advertised in the back of MBM, can't remember who by, but I could look through my back issues if you want.

PaulB

 

[byron]

Hi Adie, just spotted one for sale on EBAY.
http://listings.ebay.co.uk/aw/plistings/list/all/category1293/index.html

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My wife has not given me permission to express any opinion here