Rudder broke in half

[sailguy40]

Went out for a sail yesterday on lake ponchartrain from Mandeville, LA to Madisonville, LA about a 20 mile trip. We got a late start since we were planning on overnighting at Tchefuncta river and needed to load more supplies. Winds were somewhere between 20-25 knots, I was running really well with only a main then after crossing under the bridge, I put my 110 jib up. Still sailing along well until halfway when I heard a snap. Then I looked at the stern and seen my rudder broke clean in half! Caused my boat to go out of control for a few minutes. Now the problem is, at this point since we got a late start, it was getting dark and winds were kicking and lake was rough. The next problem, this was the first time my girlfriend has been on my sailboat. Plus the first time she has ever sailed, so needless to say this scared her to death! Especially since I had to steer the boat through these conditions for several miles using my outboard. I have been out in similar conditions many times with a few of my buds and I nor my boat ever has any problems. The one time I bring my girlfriend with me, this happens. When I say she was afraid of her life she was to the point were she did not even want to get back on my boat. She wants to know if we were in life threatening conditions. I told her no and I never thought so but I am curious what others would think about losing steering out in the middle of a very large rough lake? For me who has been sailing many of times, it was just more frustrating going several miles using an outboard to steer with only a headsail. I should have never brought her out in higher winds and seas but the marine forcast was showing 10-15knot winds for the afternoon and 10knots in the evening. I need to be getting a new rudder now. Anyone else ever had a rudder just snap in half like that just from the force of the wind and waves?

[n0w0rries]

It's all about the stories we can tell. Just wait until she's re-enacting the story to one of her friends... and then say "hey that's a great story you got out of that trip!"

[Yorksailor]

If you intend to try and sail and keep the girl you need to both take sailing lessons so that you can both understand what is happening and why.

[speciald]

i am aware of 5 different Hylas 54's that broke their rudders in half - 3 in one season. There was no reinforcement in the lower rudder - just foam and plastic!

[bobperry]

Spec' has it right. Many rudders have a "backbone plate or stiffeners in the top half but are just foam and glas below that. It's not a good way to build a rudder. The backbone plate should extend as low as reasonably possible or as designs like to say, "As low as work will allow."

But you survived something that never happens to most of us and today you are a better seamn for it. So tell the story so others can learn. You might contact Phil's Foils and ask about a new rudder.

[hellosailor]

Bob, is it possible that an unreinforced (no plate or armature) lower section is an intentional way to ensure that a grounding breaks off the lizard's tail, so to speak, without breaking the rudder post, tube, hull above it?

[bobperry]

Hello:
Yes, in some cases that could be the case but not normally. I can't recall ever doing a rudder that way.

[TSchwarck]

I broke the rudder on my 1980 O'Day 22 in a grounding accident. I was able to fix it by cutting a verticle channel across the break and filling it with a steel rod and polyester resin. I later replaced it with an Idasailor rudder which was a big improvement in performance.

[pistonbully]

That must have been scary! I always think it would be cool to stop on some island for a few weeks and carve a rudder out of some awesome piece of fire hardened driftwood..

[OtterGreen]

on our santana, the rudder assemble broke. a new assemble was 1200 from schock but my friend fabbed one up for 100 bucks. now i put some zinc on it so hopefully wont happen again...