Emergency rudder ideas ?

[jbrockpiano]

I'm Making a cruise up to Alaska this summer in an islander 30. My rudder post goes through a tube from the cockpit and through the hull. I like to have redundant systems aboard. What would a emergency rudder system be ?

[Idiens]

I think we need more details and preferably a picture of your boat's stern and rudder arrangement.

Otherwise, a long oar or sweep or the means to make one and mount it, is a generalised answer.

[sailingdog]

Another idea...depending on what boat you have, and saying what boat you had would probably be a good idea, as would saying whether your current rudder was spade, keel-hung, transom hung or skeg-hung... would be to mount gudgeons on the transom, and make up a pintle mount rudder that can be attached to those gudgeons in a relatively quick manner if the need should arise.

[T34C]

I can't remember the title of the last thread on this topic. A small drouge, anchor, or mass of line with lines lead to either side cockpit winches.

[Boasun]

If you have a wheel for steering then you should also have an emergency tiller in case of breakage in the steering system. A secondary rudder could be made from a sweep oar mount at the stern.
Then wind vane's rudder could be used as an emergency rudder.
I use to teach my students on how to balance the sails for steering with. Takes practice on this one. But it does work.
A drag towed with two lines, one on each quarter and shorten the one on the side that you want to turn towards.
Using your imagination and looking around your vessel you will come up with various ideas. Some will work and some won't.

[sailboy21]

Windvane! Autohelm (scanmar), Hydrovane, or Monitor (MRUD)
That way its already installed when you need it. Personally, I am very skeptical of the spinnaker pole & hatch board or droug methods. I would prefer something that steers almost as well as the original rudder. Sailing to Alaska? If you go anywhere near shore or inside passage be ready for currents up to 3 knots sometimes more in places you wouldn't expect. There are many many deadheads, jetters, whales and other things you can hit. A jetter is a submered waterlogged tree that, due to a change in water density/atmospheric conditions, decided to surface like a submarine. Get prepared for anything up here!

[T34C]

Originally Posted by sailboy21

Windvane! Autohelm (scanmar), Hydrovane, or Monitor (MRUD)
That way its already installed when you need it. Personally, I am very skeptical of the spinnaker pole & hatch board or droug methods. I would prefer something that steers almost as well as the original rudder. Sailing to Alaska? If you go anywhere near shore or inside passage be ready for currents up to 3 knots sometimes more in places you wouldn't expect. There are many many deadheads, jetters, whales and other things you can hit. A jetter is a submered waterlogged tree that, due to a change in water density/atmospheric conditions, decided to surface like a submarine. Get prepared for anything up here!

There are very well documented cases of sailboats completeing long passages after losing a rudder and using a knotted anchor rode as a drouge for steering rigged as Boason describes.

[sailboy21]

We should ask jbrockpiano how they plan on getting to Alaska, and what they are going to be doing there. Long offshore passage doesn't come to mind. Lots of motoring and precise timing of tidal currents do. Even if you stay offshore winds will be variable, seas can be huge and confused and currents still strong. Not arguing you can't make it somewhere towing a couch and piano behind your boat, but depending on jbrockpiano s intentions....

[Giulietta]

A secondary "emergency" rudder is normally a smaller rudder that goes on the transom, and is set up like a dingy's rudder attached to the transom, via two pintles.

Here is an idea of a rudder for what you want, but this one, off course is a very tiny one, just to show you the details.



However, I beleiev that it would be very imporstant for you to learn how to steer withouta a rudder.

Check this video here CLICK, I know the guy that made those.

Once you know how to steer with the sheets, life is easier, and even a door can be a rudder...


You can also, after learning to steer with the sails, use a system where you have a Y shaped line from each whinch and steer pulling on the rope that is on each side.

Edit:

Added this drwaing that shows how it is done. Basically you tangle as much rope as possible to create drag, and steer with the lines, via winches.

Hope this helps you. Have a safe trip.

[T34C]

Originally Posted by sailboy21

We should ask jbrockpiano how they plan on getting to Alaska, and what they are going to be doing there. Long offshore passage doesn't come to mind. Lots of motoring and precise timing of tidal currents do. Even if you stay offshore winds will be variable, seas can be huge and confused and currents still strong. Not arguing you can't make it somewhere towing a couch and piano behind your boat, but depending on jbrockpiano s intentions....

I'm sure you're right. A 2x4 and a hatchboard bolted to the transom are bound to work much better.