Steering Failure - top tip

In theory it would work, but would probably need a bit of practice to operate the control buttons with sufficient precision for close quarters maneouvering, although easier if a joystick is installed. Using tiller is more intuitive, and the loads are probably not too high at low speeds.
 
One of my major jobs this winter is fitting a below-decks autopilot ram precisely for this reason. I'm also doing it because I don't like the rattly plasticky wheelpilot, but if that was the only reason I wouldn't bother.

On this boat I'm always very conscious of the steering cables heaving to and fro, and even though the installation seems perfectly sound I worry about them breaking. Knowing I can hit "Auto" to get instant independent control of the rudder will be very reassuring.

Once stabilised under autopilot I would then fit the emergency tiller; I wouldn't like to try berthing without direct control.

Pete
 
prv said:
One of my major jobs this winter is fitting a below-decks autopilot ram precisely for this reason. I'm also doing it because I don't like the rattly plasticky wheelpilot, but if that was the only reason I wouldn't bother.

On this boat I'm always very conscious of the steering cables heaving to and fro, and even though the installation seems perfectly sound I worry about them breaking. Knowing I can hit "Auto" to get instant independent control of the rudder will be very reassuring.

Once stabilised under autopilot I would then fit the emergency tiller; I wouldn't like to try berthing without direct control.

Pete
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Smart move. I've had 2 problems with steering.

One was a Bav 37, steering gearbox feet broke off. Design fault. The boat had a belt autopilot. Rigged tiller, usual poor leverage and dodgy securing. Was in big seas NW of Lanzarote, took us 8 or so hours to get back, often need two on the tiller. Incidentaly took 9 days for new box to arrive, 1 hour to fit then off to Gib!

Other was a Jenneau 45, going down east side of Guadaloupe. Bit breezy. One of the two wheels fell off and link chain snapped. Was straightforward to get to Point Pitre marina using autopilot even though the trip along the south coast was bumpy. Oh, in the meantime, the mainsail ripped in two and the bowlight got stiffed by a wave....

Docking with the tiller was ok, called the marina first. Its one of those stern to on the dock moorings where the bow is secured to a bouy you loop in passing. 3 of us on boat, went smoothly.

Was at sea again within 24 hours that time!

Anyway, now I always check the emergency steering on any boat I sail for its foibles and practice a bit too. Rudder ram is King.

CS
 
If your pilot uses a reversing motor to run the hydraulics it should be simple to install an on/off/on switch for steering, it's what I have and is pretty much as good as the wheel, though obviously slower
 
If, like mine, the steering failure was because the final tiller arm to the rudder stock broke, your auto-pilot won't do you any good at all.
 
Very handy, we motored upwind back to the Canaries with the ST6000 doing all the work after failed cable wheels on a Sweden 38 meant we lost steerage, something like 80nm into an Atlantic crossing.

Interestingly the emergency tiller lasted about an hour before the welded plates bent, and it was so short the loads were almost too much for one person in heavy seas.

The next problem was that we were put under lots of pressure to leave the private marina we ended up in (closest safe port with repair possibilities) so the rebuild meant the cables were routed wrong and when we were cast off (by the port) the steering was reversed! (I wasn't steering) but the guy who was had to quickly get to grips with reverse steering, we then stopped a mile out and re routed before heading off again for a very fast (14 day 23hr crossing to Barbados)

Auto helm was an ST6000 which I've found excellent over many ,000nm of all weather sailing.
 
NormanS said:
If, like mine, the steering failure was because the final tiller arm to the rudder stock broke, your auto-pilot won't do you any good at all.
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This is why I'll be getting Colhel to make me an independent tiller for the autopilot :)

(Also it wouldn't fit very well on the quadrant anyway.)

Pete
 
Barnacle Bill said:
Sounds like there's a story. How did you fare getting into the marina?
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Not me that posted, but did that once on a chartered boat, second day on an almost brand new Moody 40. Neither wheel or emergency tiller would steer, wheel jammed solid in entrance to Lymington with the ferry approaching. Found the autopilot would steer, got out of the fairway and later berthed (rather badly) with +10/-10 on buttons.

Turned out the steering cables were jammed, but the AP had enough power to graunch them round even though the emergency tiller felt immovable. I assumed at the time that the AP had locked itself on, but that turned out not to be the case.
 
Using the emergency tiller on a balanced rudder intended to be operated with the mechanical advantage of wheel steering is something of a knack which I'd advise practicing. The trick is to use very small inputs, and reduce the input as soon as you feel the rudder try to take control, which it most certainly will if you put the tiller over too far.

Once you've got the hang of it, it's pretty easy and controllable . It's quite possible to safely and accurately short tack a 40 footer up a narrow channel and park it with the tiller.

In terms of redundancy, our current boat has a separate quadrant for the cables and tiller arm for the autopilot, which is indeed a nice reassurance when considering the possibilities should one or the other fail.
 
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Brent Goose said:
I am sure most the forum will already know this - but if you do suffer from a failure with a wheel steered boat and you have an autopilot which is connected to the rudder quadrant - it is worth checking to see if the AP will steer for you thereby making life a bit easier.
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Been on a Dehler, then? As far as I can see it's a standard thing to do on them when the rope connecting the wheel to the quadrant slips off the end of one of the drums (and I've never worked out why they don't just fit end-plates to the drums.) Coming into a busy marina was "interesting" using the AP but made much easier by coming alongside another Dehler who instantly understood the problems and helped with lines and fenders.
 
My boat has tiller steering. I've had two "cum orf in me 'and, guv" moments, one where the tiller sheared just outside the marina at Poole Town Quay. (The autopilot ram connect to the wooden tiller stock, so no chance of using that there) . I do have a trim tab on the rudder though and in both cases steered the boat via the trim tab. The first case while my crew jury rigged a tiller from a broom handle and in the second until the marina staff moved boats around to give me a berth by the office.

I've seen "Cohel";s arrangement and wish i could do something like that myself.
 
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