Sun Odyssey twin rudders, excessive play?

[MikeBz]

We've bought a twin-ruddered wheel-steered SO32 which has what appears to me to be excessive play in the rudders. If you grab either of the rudders it will freely rotate a small amount before some slack is taken up somewhere in the system. Doing this with one rudder doesn't move the other one. The bearings are fine and were replaced not that long ago. The broker volunteered that this would be addressed, but now it's been inspected and no problems found. Has anyone got experience of the setup on these boats, would you expect there to be some play and if not how do I get access to check the system for myself?

Mike

 

[Norman_E]

I wonder if some play is actually desirable in such a system. When heeled the leeward rudder is doing the work of steering the boat and the ability of the other one to line up to some extent with the water flow over it may actually be a good thing.

If the rudders are controlled by a cable system there will be adjusters to control the amount of free play, but I doubt that they are intended to eliminate all play.