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I have a Norvane steering unit which claims to be usable as an emergency rudder. The rudder blade looks too small to provide much purchase. It can't have more than a couple of square feet of surface area. Will have to experiment with it some day. I like the idea of a simple bottom-weighted drogue door, much like a trawl door. If you could get one of those set well, it would surely drag the stern around and still allow some decent forward motion. It would also work in almost any condition. One with switchable weights would be useful for either tack. There must be a good design for one somewhere.
Has anyone seen something like this, designed for a sailboat? There are a number of variables that would need to be calculated but a unit like this would be easily stowed and could be used if all else failed. Boat speed would be considerably reduced but by adjusting the angle of attack, could be regulated.
Just so everyone knows, Jim (the rudderless wanderer) has flown to St Lucia and bought another boat, a 2000, Bavaria 38 named Out Of Sight and registered in Canada.
Hmmm, I suppose I could make a smartass remark about his switch to a brand where the KEEL might be more apt to fall off instead of the rudder... but I won't... (grin)
Just curious, any idea whether his insurance company has already paid out? On a boat that is very likely still afloat and intact, and probably making her way slowly towards the Caribbean?
If so, that's damn good service, I have many neighbors whose homes were destroyed in Sandy, who are still waiting for settlements from their insurers...
It is so easy to build a massive overkill in a rudder and skeg that there is no reason for them to fail.
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