[Rhodes22-list] Look, Ma! No Rudder!

[Saroj]

I hear you can steer a well-balanced sail boat just by sail movement.  This
approach hasn't perculated up to the top of my "let's try this" list, but I
wouldn't be too surprised if Stan doesn't pop his head up out of the epoxy
fumes long enough to tell us that he does this regularly.

Saroj
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Effros" <bill at effros.com>
To: "Richard Smith" <sailnut at asan.com>; "The Rhodes 22 mail list"
<rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2003 8:06 PM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Look, Ma! No Rudder!


Richard,

Last summer, while conducting an experiment in the interest of science, my
rudder popped right out of the gudgeon, leaving me holding the tiller,
rudder dragging behind the boat, sailing at 5 kts., in the middle of a busy
harbor, bearing down on a $250,000 boat, with the owner on board.

Luckily, (I would like to call it experience) I also had the motor running,
in the water, and was able to miss the other guy's boat, steering using the
tiller of the motor with one hand.

I struck the sails, brought the rudder on board, and started motoring to my
mooring, when I decided to try another experiment in the interest of
science.

I motored out to deep water, set the sails, and spent the rest of the day
sailing with my motor off, using the shaft of the motor as a rudder.  It
worked remarkably well.  Sometimes I had to gybe, but not always.  It was
quite entertaining.

I would not recommend this procedure for every day use, but it is something
to know is a possibility in an emergency.

Somebody on the list used a baseball bat as a temporary tiller.  You
certainly have enough experience to be able to go out and improvise, if you
want to.  You wouldn't want to risk missing the only nice day of the summer.

Bill Effros

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Richard Smith
To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2003 4:01 PM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Tiller just broke!! HELP!!!


The dam thing broke between the rudder cheeks and across the grain.  It
seems that water had entered the horizontal pivot hole and  over time had
rotted the wood.

I am scheduled to launch on Friday.... obviously no tiller no launch!  I
will call Stan tomorrow to see if he has a replacement.

However, being a bit of a pessimist I would like to know if there are any
ready made tillers that will fit.  The West Marine catalog list several
tillers but they do not give the dimensions.  Any input welcome.

Richard Smith

__________________________________________________
Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list


__________________________________________________
Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list