Rudder/Steering

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dejavu's picture
dejavu
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Joined: 11/6/08
Posts: 433
Rudder/Steering

I'm just posting this to set my mind at ease. My boat just returned from a bottom job at the yard (no blisters yet, thank you Frank). After it was hauled, the yard service manager noted that the rudder displayed some "play" when moved back and forth by hand and so they installed a Teflon shim to solve it. While driving the boat back to my slip today, I noticed that the wheel was significantly stiffer to turn than before. The wheel used to "spin" really freely before, now you have to "turn" the wheel more deliberately...no "spinning". It makes sense to me that the added shim and corrected rudder play caused this and the service manager says it will loosen up over time. It's just that I'm used to the way it was and want to make sure that this is correct. Does it sound right to you?

Thanks, Mike

Deja Vu
1991 MK I # 1106
Marina del Rey, CA

wfahey's picture
wfahey
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Joined: 2/12/08
Posts: 157

Mike
Somebody didn't tighten up the hand brake on you did they? Sometimes when we are sitting around the cockpit visiting with friends I have seen people play with the break and then when I head out to sail I've noticed the steering is tight.

Bill
s/v Lucky
1984 MK I Hull #266
San Antonio, Texas

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Steve Frost
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Joined: 12/14/07
Posts: 788

The yard may have tightened the brake deliberatly. I always tighten my brake when not underway. If someone was spinning their boat around behind me and their propwash hit the rudder it can slam the rudder hard over and damage steering components just as if you where backing up and let go of the wheel it will slam to the rudder stop.

Cepheus dream
C36 MK I # 825
MK I Tech Editor No Mas

dejavu's picture
dejavu
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Joined: 11/6/08
Posts: 433

I'm checkin' that brake tomorrow. Sometimes it's the simplest things.

Mike

Deja Vu
1991 MK I # 1106
Marina del Rey, CA

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