Emergency Steering?

[DanBurke]

3 weeks ago we got caught in a blow in Lake Erie- 30 knots of wind and BIG seas out of the west. It was cold and rainy which is enough to worry about in any boat but when my steering failed, well, needless to say I was preparing for the worse. Somehow the key had managed to work its way out of the slot on the wheel so it was simply spinning free. Sometimes it would "catch" which gave me enough steerage to pull into the safety of Pelee Island. I was moments away from starting to drill holes in the rudders and lash whatever I could find.
The source of the problem is now fixed but has anyone come up with an emergency tiller solution?

[c130king]

Not an emergency tiller but here is what I did when my steering broke. Of course in my case it was a beautiful day, sunny skies and 10-12 mph winds.

Steering Broke

It may have worked in your case.

Jim

[DanBurke]

You know, Jim, that may have worked. I could have raised the rudders and hoped for enough steerage with the Honda, board fully deployed of course. Thanks for your input.

Dan

[K9Kampers]

Of all the places to break down...from what I can tell, a person should be so lucky! Pelee Island

It's never happened to me (yet), but that's one reason why I carry a paddle & duct tape...Macgyver Tiller!

[c130king]

With big winds and big seas it would not have been fun. But you may have been able to get yourself to some safety.

If one was to rig an "emergency tiller" I would think it would be easier to rig it to the outboard than it would be to rig it to the rudders.

In fact, I actually backed my boat into its slip that day by physically squatting in front of the motor, helm seat up of course, and having the motor between my legs and turning it by twisting my hips...and reaching behind me for the throttle. Actually did better at controlling the backing that way then I did by using the steering wheel. Fortunately the conditions were relatively calm.

I thought it was pretty fun.

Jim

[K9Kampers]

Yes, Jim, rigging it to the outboard is what I have in mind when it's my turn.

[DanBurke]

The problem with relying solely on the outboard is steerage. 1) given the conditions out there, we needed the rudders in the water to keep the boat heading directly into the weather. And 2) had we lost use of the motor, we were screwed.
I wonder if there is a way of connecting "something" to the control arm, providing a push/pull setup??

[K9Kampers]

Dan-
I understand what you are looking for, and there may be several ways to deal with the issue. However, my line of thought utilizes both the rudders and the outboard. By attaching a makeshift tiller arm (paddle, boat hook, whisker pole, mast raising pole, 2x4) by whatever means available to the motor / cover, provides a method of leverage at a convenient hieght. With the motor attached to the rudder yoke / bar, the rudders would do the actual steering. Disconnecting the control arm from the system would remove the problem at the helm.

[Rich Plumb]

I've never needed an emergency rudder, but here's an approach submitted by someone else on this board.



~~~~~~~~~~_/)~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rich Plumb, "Plumb Crazy"
26X, Covington WA

[c130king]

I would think the rudder would break or bend if you did this...

But I have never tried this.

Jim

[Billy]

I would think the rudder would break or bend if you did this...

But I have never tried this.

Jim

Nope, shouldn't break. There was very little resistance on the rudders as they seemed well balanced. I took that pic after coming in Beaufort Inlet (NC). Steering broke just as I was even with Fort Macon in the main channel and dropping the main. Told my friend to use F & R to maintain position and watch traffic while I secured the main. Then went below, got a paddle, the boat pole and a handful of bungies. In about 1 minute, we had a tiller. Pulled the pin from the cable connection, put the 140 in gear and proceded home. Still using the same rudders.

As much I as I'd like to take credit for it, I originally read about the idea on the old board many years ago . Like other possible situations, I had mentally already played through the scenario and it worked.

Since the M's rudders don't stand completely vertical, this trick only works on the X.

[DanBurke]

I think something like that would work on the M, too. The angle of the rudder/"tiller" would be awkward but do-able. hull, I would bend the dock pole if this happened again! And if I lost the motor and needed to sail to relative safety, one of the rudders could be dropped to provide some steerage. I am going to work on something immediately and perhaps take some pictures. This is my second scare in this boat and although I got through it, I have NO desire to relive the experience.

Thanks again everyone.

Burke out.

[bubba]

I was thinking about taking a 4 to 5 inch dia alumium pipe and cutting slots in the ends one to fit over one rudder and the other to fit a handle to stear by. Of course I need to make this up ahead of time and carry it under the rear birth. Maybe some ecential spair parts would be easier to carry.

[Tahoe Jack]

Well......if the mods were accessible...I posted one a year or so ago that is a simple quick install (one bail pull-pin) steel tiller which I attach to a 'shoe' permanently fastened to the motor...reaches over the helm seat and frankly works as well as the helm....but very sensitive. Like most mods....born from experience....had to bear-hug and twist the motor while my son steered....for an hour!

Jack

[Kelly Hanson East]

I have helmed my by lashing a boat hook to my engine (Merc 50 BF) and using the boathook to swing the rudders via the motor linkage. I have even docked this way (in good weather)

...and now I have my Tillerpilot installed I have a second steering system completely independent of anything in the pedestal or cable so I could fall back to remote steering if anything in that gear broke.