CHAPTER 11 Rudder failure or loss
Short of major surgery or diving under the boat, there is little that can be done to repair this without hauling the boat. However, when rigging a jury steering system it will help to know that the absence of the rudder will have a bad effect on directional stability. Even a motor boat will suffer, and a fin-and-spade sailing boat will be in dire straits. Similarly, if a bearing fails with the rudder set at any other angle than straight fore-and-aft, it will be extremely hard to control the boat, so the first job will be somehow to lever the rudder back into line.
Tiller failure
This is easily rectified. Unless a tiller is of unassailable strength, such as a hefty iron example in a traditional yacht, a spare must be carried. It won’t take up much space and may never be needed, but if it is you’ll be sorry if you left it in the garage.
Wheel steering failure
Far more regular than other forms of steering mishap, the usual problem here is that a rod or wire has come adrift or jumped the sheave of a turning block. It behoves every skipper to have investigated how the steering mechanism works, and to have confidence that if one of its parts malfunctions, it can be accessed then fixed within the limits of the ship’s tools and spares kit. Meanwhile, the emergency tiller will have been installed. This must also have had a ‘dry run’ before it is needed. Don’t assume the one supplied by the builder will work. Some distressed mariners have been disappointed.
Loss of rudder – Powerboats
With twin screws, losing a rudder is an inconvenience not a problem. Single-screw motor boats are similarly placed to sailing craft, although they have an easier time because their propulsion is more or less shoving them straight ahead, while the sailboat’s rig is tugging her every which way and back again. Some single-screw powerboats with dual trim tabs can actually steer in a rudimentary manner by using one tab at a time. They might not be able to manoeuvre into a tight berth, but they are in with a chance of reaching the safety of an anchorage to ‘take it from there’. Try it with the rudders amidships and see what you can achieve. In other cases, the best answer is usually to rig a simple jury rudder (see page 116). Most sailing boats can contrive this from existing gear. Power craft may have to ship something in anticipation if it is felt the risk is real enough.
Loss of rudder – Sail
A sailing boat that loses her rudder has two choices, although she generally ends up with a combination. She can either steer by means of her sails, or she can contrive some form of jury rudder.
Steering with sails
To a greater or lesser extent, all sailing craft can be steered by their sails. In a large square-rigger the rudder supplies little more than the final trim, while boats such as cruising dinghies that are able to control their angle of heel by trimming weight can be sailed entirely rudderless. Fore- and-aft rigged ballasted yachts rely heavily on their rudders.
Choosing the right speed – It’s well known that a boat can be induced to turn by using the inherent qualities of her sails. Unfortunately, unless she has a finely balanced hull, as soon as she heels beyond a certain point, she develops too much weather helm for the sails alone to counterbalance. The answer is to reef down, especially the mainsail, because this is exacerbating the weather helm.
Learning to balance the sails • Headsail – Start with a boat not making way, beam-on to the wind with the helm lashed amidships. Hoist and sheet the headsail alone. She will bear away and may well continue to do so. Some boats will come back into line as they gather way, but by no means all. Only experimenting will tell.
• Main and/or mizzen – Do the same thing with the main, or better still, the mizzen if you have one. The boat will round up towards the wind. Try easing the sheet to arrest the process or, if you are moving slowly enough, perhaps even to bear away a little.
Steering with sails.
MANUAL OF SEAMANSHIP | 115
Emergencies
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