Motoring with rudder down
- pokerrick1
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- ROAD Soldier
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- magnetic
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If the Class Traitor Highlander is reading this and still willing to talk to us lesser mortals, am I not right, John, in pointing out that we power the
at top whack without raising the rudders? I sure as hull do - ok, that's hitherto meant only 12mph due to the tinpot 25hp engine - but there's no quick-lift mechanism for the rudders on the "performance" MacGregor's, and I recall you once writing about twin tails of spray at 20 kts. The 40hp is mounted now and as soon as the 300 mph winds abate, off we go
The centreboard is a whole 'nuther issue, and whilst I agree that it makes the boat a lot more maneageable at 5kts on the River Thames, there's no way I am planing with even an inch of that sucker in the water.......
In closing, was out last Sunday for the second expedition in the Beneteau - F5 gusting 8, and boy does that boat fly with just the jenny with a reef and a half - 7kts on a reach and pointing really well, even with the main firmly down inside the stackpack. I couldn't do that in the Mac and may be close to losing my religion...
The centreboard is a whole 'nuther issue, and whilst I agree that it makes the boat a lot more maneageable at 5kts on the River Thames, there's no way I am planing with even an inch of that sucker in the water.......
In closing, was out last Sunday for the second expedition in the Beneteau - F5 gusting 8, and boy does that boat fly with just the jenny with a reef and a half - 7kts on a reach and pointing really well, even with the main firmly down inside the stackpack. I couldn't do that in the Mac and may be close to losing my religion...
- baldbaby2000
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- Jack Sparrow
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- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Cairns, Australia 2007 M 50 Yamaha Run to Paradise
With the rudders tied down then grounding them ie hitting sand (dagger board up) you will cut a neat slot in the deck were the rope turns out of the deck exit hole and heads off towards the cleat. If the ropes stretch allowing the rudders to canter back this will load up the steering gear causing failure this can happen while sailing or motoring.
Jack Sparrow
Jack Sparrow
- kadet
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Sounds like Jack's next mod is going to be a forward looking sonar with an auto-rudderup attachment hooked into the alarm
I was thinking of using a shear pin linkage in the rudder rope hold down instead of bungie. Getting the right breaking strain might be a bit hit and miss though.
Ship with new
on board is 7 days out from OZ but who is counting. Wife is pi$$ed already spent $4000 on mods and boat is not even in the yard 
I was thinking of using a shear pin linkage in the rudder rope hold down instead of bungie. Getting the right breaking strain might be a bit hit and miss though.
Ship with new
- Jack Sparrow
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Boblee
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We have done a fair bit in rivers and lakes here, of course in the rivers unless you have a strong cross wind while trying to line up the trailer
there is no need for a rudder down but in one lake there are quite a few stumps well within rudder range whick fortunately I have managed to hit with the dagger board first.
Have been totally stuck in weeds and mud with the rudders down which took me getting in the water to disentagle just to lift them.
We have had enormous amounts of weed wrapped around the rudders while sailing from shallow banks or just loose weed stirred up by power boats etc.
Even managed to "beach" on a large log while negotiating a shallow passageway under power and then tangled the tender rope around the prop and the rudder (up) which did manage to cut a groove in it..
Walking around the boat trying to push a boat called "trust me" out of these situations must give watchers a belly laugh
.
Anyway "when" my rudders finally break I will consider they have given good service and hopefully will be able to continue the journey even if not under full sail.
Have been totally stuck in weeds and mud with the rudders down which took me getting in the water to disentagle just to lift them.
We have had enormous amounts of weed wrapped around the rudders while sailing from shallow banks or just loose weed stirred up by power boats etc.
Even managed to "beach" on a large log while negotiating a shallow passageway under power and then tangled the tender rope around the prop and the rudder (up) which did manage to cut a groove in it..
Walking around the boat trying to push a boat called "trust me" out of these situations must give watchers a belly laugh
Anyway "when" my rudders finally break I will consider they have given good service and hopefully will be able to continue the journey even if not under full sail.
- TAM
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I had an interesting experience with the rudders under power. We usually leave 1 down a low speeds to improve handling. One time we were already motoring at 5mph and when I pulled up the one rudder, the boat went into a sudden sharp turn. I would expect the same would happen if one of the ropes were to snap. The faster you're going, the worse the turn could be.
