But I learned a lot at the time as we fabricated a new rudder from scratch; not least in terms of ho

Some time ago I posted here with my views on the suitability of spade rudders for offshore cruising. Having lost a spade rudder that looked to be in A1 condition, naturally my thoughts at the time were coloured by that disaster. Despite the fact that I had up until that time owned three yachts that had spade rudders, had covered tens of thousands of miles aboard them, and but for a bad case of metal fatigue might never have had a concern about their use, my immediate blue collar comedy tour rides again buy reaction was to rule out having one on our next boat.
But I learned a lot at the time as we fabricated a new rudder blue collar comedy tour rides again buy from scratch; not least in terms of how difficult—and expensive—it can be to do it right. And since then I ve put my habit of being an inveterate noser-around in boatyards to good use looking at examples of spade rudders both good and bad, to balance against the understandable antipathy caused by our loss. As a result of those examples and time for reflection I ve altered my views in some regards—but not all.
One thing I have noticed blue collar comedy tour rides again buy is that very few owners include removal blue collar comedy tour rides again buy of a spade rudder within their maintenance schedule, which I think is fundamentally wrong, especially for any yacht intended to make extended voyages offshore. We removed our rudder every other year on our working boat, to examine and service it, usually as soon as we lifted the boat out, as it was impossible to do so with the boat in a cradle (otherwise we'd have had to dig a very deep hole), then replaced it at re-launch. Here's why:
It's virtually impossible to stop water getting into a conventionally fabricated (stainless stock/GRP shell) spade rudder. blue collar comedy tour rides again buy Getting the water out isn t easy either, and if left inside the shell over the winter may combine with other internal chemicals or pollutants in an anaerobic atmosphere and exacerbate blue collar comedy tour rides again buy internal corrosion. Our rudder was huge (and heavy!) and so took some handling, but we would turn it upside down, then tie it against a wall to allow the water to drain thoroughly over the winter. Another blue collar comedy tour rides again buy option I ve seen employed is drilling and tapping the bottom of the shell to accept a nylon drain plug, capped with Sikaflex. This can then be removed in winter to allow the shell to drain.
blue collar comedy tour rides again buy I ve often seen owners 'examine' the state of the bearings and seals by just waggling the rudder around. However, it s very difficult to ascertain the true amount of wear in the bearings in this way, especially with the steering system (rod or wire) attached. Detach everything from the quadrant and you may find a very different result.
Most standard blue collar comedy tour rides again buy rudder bearings are made of a hard plastic blue collar comedy tour rides again buy material such as Ertalon or Polyacetal. These take a real pasting, and so will wear over time, and if the bearing wall is not thick enough can crack, especially if there is any corrosion present. Inspection is the only way to properly assess their condition and, if they're OK, proper cleaning of them (they should be kept free from grease) will help prolong their life.
Removal of the rudder also allows the bearing surfaces of the stock to be examined for corrosion. It will also allow for a thorough inspection of the shell from all angles, where any cracking or crazing can be assessed and appropriate remedial action taken.
Whether your stock has a stuffing box or O-rings (both now fallen from favour) or simply blue collar comedy tour rides again buy employs a lip seal, sooner or later it will need servicing or replacing, especially if there is any play in the bearings. And it's not uncommon to find that the lip seal installed is not suitable for marine use (with a mild steel spring) and so won't last any time at all. As it's virtually impossible to remove and replace these lip seals intact (they don't cost much anyway) with the rudder in place, it makes sense to source the correct grade of seal in advance and replace it when you ve got the rudder blue collar comedy tour rides again buy out (to achieve the best seal with lip seals a pair should be used). Or, if your rudder installation will allow it, consider fitting a specially designed gaiter . Worn or loose fitting lip seals or O-rings are a common source of leaks, especially blue collar comedy tour rides again buy in heavy weather, so it makes sense to replace them on a regular basis.
I prefer one piece/material construction, which offers the best chance of structural and watertight integrity. As Matt so eloquently explained, carbon construction is now becoming more cost effective and seems to me to be the way to go for the future with GRP boats and, equally, one piece aluminium or steel makes most sense for hulls in those materials.
In production boats stainless steel stocks are generally being replaced by aluminium, which, if properly designed and fabricated, and most importantly properly isolated against electrolysis, offers many advantages in terms of weight and cost. But I ve seen plenty of cases of corrosion of these stocks, including internally, and believe blue collar comedy tour rides again buy that there's even more reason to remove and inspect blue collar comedy tour rides again buy them regularly as a result.
I'll bet that most of us have heard of at least one sail drive being eaten by electrolysis in recent years—I ve seen quite a few—but no-one seems to consider that if the sail drive has been eaten, what's happening to the rudder stock? Regular inspection of the exposed blue collar comedy tour rides again buy shaft at the hull/stock position should be a must—oh, and don't antifoul the stock with a conventional copper based antifoulant
Whilst I still prefer the strength and security that a skeg offers, I accept that a properly blue collar comedy tour rides again buy designed and constructed spade rudder can be a viable choice, but it must have some form of protection ahead of it in the form of a keel or prop skeg to reduce the risk of collision damage. One of the reasons I am not a fan of twin rudders is that this is virtually impossible to achieve with this configuration.
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I too like the idea of a transom hung rudder, for all the reasons you state. The only problem is that I just can t come up with an elegant way for said rudder and a pendulum-servo self steering gear the most powerful and easiest to use type to coexist.
The vane gear can usually be mounted outboard of the rudder, blue collar comedy tour rides again buy and if the rudder is mounted in a cut-out as Richard suggests blue collar comedy tour rides again buy shouldn t be too far outboard or inelegant. Make the mountings simple and/or quick release blue collar comedy tour rides again buy a la Windpilot, and it s not going to be too vulnerable in harbour either.
That makes sense, blue collar comedy tour rides again buy although I think the gear would be a more vulnerable to harbour damage, ditto the outboard hung rudder. But then having spent years in industrial and fishing harbours where the other users are not too worried blue collar comedy tour rides again buy about a bit of a bump , I m probably blue collar comedy tour rides again buy being paranoid.
blue collar comedy tour rides again buy I m afraid I didn t explain my thoughts very well. What I m suggesting is that the Windpilot can be very quickly removed from the transom (with a little bit of forward planning), so that it is safe from damage in harbour. Ours takes 10 minutes max to remove or re-install, and we now do so whenever were at rest in a position where the gear is vulnerable (and against theft in boatyards!).
Hi John, as an alternative have you considered a trim tab type self steering system? This would work well with an outboard blue collar comedy tour rides again buy rudder, using a hollow rudder stock for the trim tab s shaft. Whilst this system is not as powerful as a pendulum servo, given the AA40 is going to have a reasonably well balance hull shape, this lesser power should not be a problem
Yes, I did give some thought to a trim tab system, but in the end decided against it, for just the reason you mention: lower steering power. Keep in mind that I conceived the Adventure 40 as a buy-and-go boat for those new to offshore voyaging and I m pretty sure I m right in saying that it is way easier to get a good quality pendulum-servo gear to steer a boat well than a trim tab gear.
While I concede your very well argued points, Colin, I tend to agree with RDE in this case. Yes, a transom-hung, skeg-mounted rudder is problematic in terms of performance and drag, but we *are* speaking of cruisers, right? Five point five versus six knots SOG seems trivial when you consider one less hole below the waterline and the ability to repair or even replace a transom-hung rudder without a haulout.
blue collar comedy tour rides again buy I own a spade-rudder boat, but offshore, blue collar comedy tour rides again buy I would worry less with a transom-hung rudder with a sturdy tiller head should the ram pack it in OR should I wish to bypass the wheel steering in favour of a vane.
Up to about forty feet, so do I, and there clearly benefits in terms of cost and simplicity. As long as the rudder is properly balanced, personally I d prefer tiller steering up that size in any case, as I seldom blue collar comedy tour rides again buy take the wheel and leave the Windpilot to do the hard work. More room in the cockpit, simpler to hook up an autopilot or self-steering blue collar comedy tour rides again buy gear, too.
But above that size it s less of an option, in my view, and then it s a question of whether the designer and builder did their job right, and whether they used the best materials to ensure structural integrity and reliability.
I concur to a somewhat scary degree. Originally, for reasons of speed and stowage, I wanted a 45 footer in steel for offshore work. But the mechanical forces involved exceeded blue collar comedy tour rides again buy what I could reasonably expect my fit but height-challenged wife to handle in any kind of blow. And although I m nearly a foot taller and stronger, the tiller on the 40-footer is seven feet long and is indeed a handful if I m hand-steering in 25 knots (a worst-case scenario in which the AP, the vane and the hydraulics have failed).
So I agree that the desirable simplicity blue collar comedy tour rides again buy and sturdiness of the transom-hung rudder and (optional/emergency/windvane-driven) tiller does produce countering arguments at the 40 foot level. It s easier to pack smarter than it is to buy a boat you can t operate because it s beyond one s physical abilities. That s why I look a little askance at the 70-year-old retirees heading south in high-sided, flattish