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Date Posted: - Thursday - 01/20/05 - 6:04pm
Author: Rob
Author Host/IP: NoHost / 130.76.45.229
Subject: Emergency Steering

I am currently looking at a M32 and reading (as much as I can) about cruising boats. Are there any thoughts out there about emergency steering of the rudder system on these boats?

Thanks

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Replies:

[> The Immortal Worm -- Randall, - Tuesday - 01/25/05 - 12:51pm (64-161-221-132.opentable.com/64.161.221.132)

Worm gear is famous for being reliable. Imagine the steering mechanism in your car being replaced with the steering mechanism from a Caterpillar earthmover and you’ll get a sense of why they’re so tough in our boats. As a small case in point, notice that there aren’t any mentions of worm gear failures on this board.

That said, there is no ruling out the need for contingency planning.

Along those lines, I’ve often wondered what an emergency to the worm gear would look like. In general, the pieces are so heavily built compared to most production boat steering systems that the only thing I can imagine is 1) slipping of the gear teeth. The only wear my 32 year old gear evidences is in the teeth—she steers like a 57 Chevy; 2) failure of the entire assembly’s connections to the deck. Whereas neither of these seems all that likely, both would imply that the rudder is hopelessly jammed until the worm gear can be disassembled.

Re recovery from same, I've had the following ideas (just ideas—none implemented to date).
***I'm attempting to acquire a used Hydrovane wind vane, whose permanent rudder could act as THE rudder in an emergency.
***One can envision fashioning a crude tiller that fastens to the top of the rudderpost via the worm gear "rocker arm". There are two nuts and bolts at each end of this “arm” that hold the “steering rods” (I’m making these terms up as I don’t know what the right ones are) that come off the gear itself. The fashioned tiller could attach here using the same nuts and bolts currently used to hold the arms. Of course, this assumes the emergency didn’t destroy this specific assembly.
***Then there’s the old standby: knocking a small hole in the top most outer corner of the rudder, to which one could attach lines that would run up and over the starboard and port counter to the jib sheet winches. I can’t imagine this to be a very convenient way to steer, but then, if all else fails, whatever works is, by definition, the best solution.

My two cents,

RR

[Edit]
[> Re: Emergency Steering -- Gordon, - Tuesday - 01/25/05 - 5:19pm (pcp03673530pcs.grosep01.mi.comcast.net/68.40.108.88)

My M40 has a hydraulic steering system, it's very reliable. However, if it fails I have a large wooden tiller that fits into the head nut of the rudder. So, as long as I 'have' a rudder I can always pilot the boat.

[Edit]
[> Re: Emergency Steering -- Matthieu, - Tuesday - 01/25/05 - 7:44pm (proxy2.cirrus.com/141.131.128.22)

Hey Randall,

If you are still looking for a windvane, I found this message board :
http://cruisenews.net/cgi-bin/windvane/windvane.pl
you might want to post a message there...

Still want to race in the bay ?

Matthieu

[Edit]
[> Re: Emergency Steering -- Rob, - Wednesday - 01/26/05 - 1:05pm (NoHost/130.76.45.229)

Thanks for your input. I was thinking along the wind vane idea myself. I have just started to go over the boat and looking at the steering mechanism. I was trying to envision (in an emergency) how quickly you could regain control of the boat. The system seems very strong and does look reliable.

Rob

[Edit]
[> Re: Emergency Steering -- Speedy, - Tuesday - 02/ 1/05 - 7:05pm (NoHost/202.131.161.222)

Hi Rob.

I agree that with the worm steering, the biggest worry (and it's a slight one) would be the loss of the rudder. The worm is just too strong to fail, unless you loose the carrier from the rear or hardware from the jack screw.

These boats are very steerable with the mizzen sail. If you don't want the expense of the vane, the mizzen will get you home.

[Edit]
[> [> Re: Emergency Steering -- Rob, - Thursday - 02/ 3/05 - 2:28pm (NoHost/130.76.45.229)

The rudder seems to be very stout (the boat I am currently looking at has been out of the water for over a year and the rudder has split). Some of the Mariner articles that I have read (regarding self steering/handling) speak of the sail trim properties of Mariners. It appears that the boats will self sail (with sail trim) very well on most points except when broad reaching with following seas. Has this been your experience?

Rob

[Edit]

[> Re: Emergency Steering -- Speedy, - Friday - 02/ 4/05 - 3:00pm (NoHost/202.131.161.222)

Yes. Trimming the boat to run a bit closer to the wind gave me a better ride and a faster sail. I never felt the need for a self steering device, except for one long day when there was absolutely no wind and I motored. A prop change fixed that though.

[Edit]

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