Rudder for old Volvo outdrive?

It pivots up out of the way apparently, so that it can lift at speed when it's not needed.
'Twas just a thought, but I guess if they were any good, manufacturers would be using a similar system on new outdrives?
 
Was hoping to improve straight line stability and give some steering when not under power.
But, it seems they don't do much to improve the wandering, and it's probably not big enough to give much in the way of steering in neutral.
 
We had one on our stern-power leg, it made no difference that we could feel when it eventually fell off somewhere. Out-drives are very throttle sensitive, need a lot of practice in close quarter manouvres , no doubt you are finding this out. Never mind your next boat will very likely have shafts, and then you will be accepted by the vast majority of boat owners. LOL

WATCH THE LAST TWO MINUTES OR SO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=815vHQhYz0Y


PURE LUCK!!!
 
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Thanks for that, amazing bit of maneuvering! A charter boat I go out on from Ramsgate has IPS drives, it's all controlled by a little joystick and the skipper can move it anyway he wants, it's amazing to watch it.
My next boat? it's going to have oars!! ;)
 
Murv said:
Thanks for that, amazing bit of maneuvering! A charter boat I go out on from Ramsgate has IPS drives, it's all controlled by a little joystick and the skipper can move it anyway he wants, it's amazing to watch it.
My next boat? it's going to have oars!! ;)
Click to expand...

der dogs?
 
First of all wandering is a property of the hull (common to planing designs), not easily to be remedied by adapting things to the drive.

Secondly manouvering with sterndrive (or outboard) is different to rudders simply by design and function. Where a rudder need water to pass at a certain minimum speed to steer, drives that turn the propeller can manouver virtually without any speed because it can send the thrust in any direction.

A bit like a car: You turn the steering wheels in the direction you want to go, then add power to move. Manouvering is done by shifting direction of the thrust and direction of movement (fwd/rev).
Replace 'car' with 'forklift' to get the picture of steering with the rear end :D
 
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Spi D said:
First of all wandering is a property of the hull (common to planing designs), not easily to be remedied by adapting things to the drive.

Secondly manouvering with sterndrive (or outboard) is different to rudders simply by design and function. Where a rudder need water to pass at a certain minimum speed to steer, drives that turn the propeller can manouver virtually without any speed because it can send the thrust in any direction.

A bit like a car: You turn the steering wheels in the direction you want to go, then add power to move. Manouvering is done by shifting direction of the thrust and direction of movement (fwd/rev).
Replace 'car' with 'forklift' to get the picture of steering with the rear end :D
Click to expand...

I hadn't thought of it like that. So, in some ways, it does give an advantage over a rudder. Just need tiny amounts of drive to push the rear end around to where I want it. Sounds good!
I have another lesson Wednesday, hopefully it will all start coming together!
 
PCUK said:
To hugely improve straight line running, fit a fixed skeg on the hull at the transom to act as a fixed rudder. I have fitted these on many boats and they don't affect normal handling.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that, that's way beyond my ability though. The boat dries out at every low tide too so anything I fitted would need to be strong.
The wandering is not that big a problem, definitely quite pronounced on the non tidal river, but time spent up there will be minimal anyway.
From what I've read, it's just a matter of getting used to it, hopefully I will!
Incidentally, I've seen a Fairline holiday with bilge keels, they must have been added afterwards as I'm sure they were never supplied by that. Looks a very nice option but I guess could affect planing quite a lot.

The bolt on rudder option looked a nice easy fix at first glance, I was just looking at things I could do to the boat when she comes out of the water in the Spring.
 
A mate of mine did this mod mainly to look after the prop, we operate in shallow water a lot of time.
DSCF0741.jpg
 
Nice. Doesn't it affect steering, trying to go straight when the rudder want to turn?

Not easy to combine with sterndrive and frequently drying out.
 
That's a nice looking mod, pretty effective too I should think.
Thanks for the link Spi D, but I've dropped the idea now. Just going to learn to steer straight!
Anyway, hopefully with all my new found power, I'll be able to spend more time on plane anyway :)
 
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