Wright & Beyer Kitchen Rudder

[burgundyben]

Many of the RN 32 ft motor cutters back in the 60s were fitted with Kitchen gear and we all had to qualify handling them. Took a bit of getting used to but it was very effective. In the fleet they were mainly used to support diving, including dockyard hard had divers.

Do you happen to recall if the steering wheel self centered?

The drag of the Kitchen system must have been immense, though in the right applications I can see it being useful.

Indeed, I think so. My boat had a long history on the Clyde as a Hydrographic survey boat, mounted with cameras and echosounder stuff, they used to bimble up and down in a grid and this rudder meant she could turn on the spot, I suppose that was useful to them.

 

[myquest]

Wow. This brings back memories! As a 15 year old (1968) I had a summer job on one of the Iona ferries which had a Kitchen rudder. It was great for coming alongside the jetty and yes it self centred against quite a hefty spring as I recall.

 

[prv]

It's very much like the thrust reverser ' clamshells or buckets ' used by jet fighters like the Viggen and Tornado, though they of course only work in reverse not thrust vectoring.

Yes, or indeed the reverser bucket on a marine jet drive, which would seem to have a lot in common with the Kitchen gear in terms of its effects. You can put a jet bucket halfway down and send equal amounts of water forwards and backwards, driving the boat nowhere. Then swivel the jet nozzle within the bucket and push the stern sideways, just like that classic launch in the video.

With the jet, though, the bucket lifts up into the lee of the transom when you're going forwards, reducing the drag.

Pete

 

[Keith 66]

We had a 32 ft cutter with one down Leigh Old town back in the early 80's, i did some planking repairs on her. Like most she was burned a few years later & all the kitchen gear run in down the scrap yard.

 

[burgundyben]

and yes it self centred against quite a hefty spring as I recall.

Thanks, very helpful.

As an aside, last night I had a little play, set the rudder at neutral, started engine, put the gearbox in fwd and had a little wind of the handle each way to see what happened. I think I now better understand how to drive it.

 

[maxi77]

Do you happen to recall if the steering wheel self centered?

Tiller steered and to be honest I can't remember it was a long time ago but my gut feeling was that it was not self centring but I could be wrong

 

[burgundyben]

I did get in touch with the owner of Rabelle, the lovely boat shown in the youtube clip, via facebook, but comms were a bit tricky due to the language gap.

I had also written to an email address of someone I don't know, that I believe has the same system. Today I got his amazing response! Its a full description of how to operate it and confirms what I realised this week.

The self centering is correct, I just need practice!

 

[burgundyben]

I am now getting the hang of the Kitchen rudder and its bloody brilliant!

 

[Tomahawk]

I always thought it was Kitchener not Kitchen.

 

[burgundyben]

I always thought it was Kitchener not Kitchen.

You thought wrong I'm afraid!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitchen_rudder

 

[Devon Mariner]

The Royal Navy also used this rudder gear on 9m surveying launches which I worked with in the 80's. The gear gives very good low speed control in both forwards and reverse. Hence it is very good for driving directly towards the shore at slow speed, and being able to reverse under control when the lookout on the bow spots rocks or shallow water.

 

[burgundyben]

The Royal Navy also used this rudder gear on 9m surveying launches which I worked with in the 80's. The gear gives very good low speed control in both forwards and reverse. Hence it is very good for driving directly towards the shore at slow speed, and being able to reverse under control when the lookout on the bow spots rocks or shallow water.

Yes, built by a number of companies including Fairey that built my boat, there is a chap in Gosport with one.

Mine is the same as here

https://www.theyachtmarket.com/boats_for_sale/1852577/

 

[Nautibits]

Bit late to the party I am afraid, but I hope some of this is of interest still...
I had the pleasure of owning an ex RN 32' cutter during the 70's. She came off the Ark Royal (09) before they scrapped her in Devonport.
When I emigrated to Canada I had to scrap the hull, but not before removing the 600lbs of bronze Kitchen Rudder and assorted fittings.
I now have the Kitchen Rudder mounted in its original configuration. A great conversation piece and nostalgia.
At some point I would like to re-install the gear on a suitable boat.
Any suggestions?

Here is 'Darius' in all her past and present glory, together with original MOD drawings:
Darius

 

[DJE]

People mentioned the drag of these systems. Does that mean that they were fitted to sailing boats?

 

[Steamboat Rob]

Bit late to the party I am afraid, but I hope some of this is of interest still...
I had the pleasure of owning an ex RN 32' cutter during the 70's. She came off the Ark Royal (09) before they scrapped her in Devonport.
When I emigrated to Canada I had to scrap the hull, but not before removing the 600lbs of bronze Kitchen Rudder and assorted fittings.
I now have the Kitchen Rudder mounted in its original configuration. A great conversation piece and nostalgia.
At some point I would like to re-install the gear on a suitable boat.
Any suggestions?

Here is 'Darius' in all her past and present glory, together with original MOD drawings:
Darius

Thank you for posting the photos of Darius, and particularly the drawings. I am currently attempting to make a kitchen rudder to fit to a carvel hull Steam Launch which I am restoring so the information contained is gold dust... I would dearly love to see the 'real thing' and take dimensions; the 20" propeller I have looks pretty much the same size so I could make an exact copy of the gear. Sadly Canada is a bit far! A funny coincidence - I also have a 15' clinker harbour launch from Devonport!

 

[burgundyben]

Thank you for posting the photos of Darius, and particularly the drawings. I am currently attempting to make a kitchen rudder to fit to a carvel hull Steam Launch which I am restoring so the information contained is gold dust... I would dearly love to see the 'real thing' and take dimensions; the 20" propeller I have looks pretty much the same size so I could make an exact copy of the gear. Sadly Canada is a bit far! A funny coincidence - I also have a 15' clinker harbour launch from Devonport!

Rob,

My boat with the kitchen rudder is in Yarmouth, Isle or Wight. Its in the process of being sold and will be moving to Cowes. I'm happy to point the new owner towards this thread.

Kitchen rudders are brilliant!

 

[[159032]]

The drag of the Kitchen system must have been immense, though in the right applications I can see it being useful.

The drag was terrible if it had the optional Aga fitted.

 

[billskip]

The drag was terrible if it had the optional Aga fitted.

Rayburn was a little more streamline

 

[syfuga]

Hi
I came across this thread as I was researching to see how 'Uncle Jack Kitchen' as my father knew him fitted into our family tree. I have to hand a 20 page brochure for the Kitchen Rudders, along with a picture of a model that I believe my grandfather may have built to demonstrate the principle. Here is a page from the brochure.

 

[Bilgediver]

I hope I'm not the only person who hasn't the foggiest idea what you chaps are talking about. I'm going to have to search the internet methinks.

Edit - Five minutes later and I'm starting to understand!

This might help.