lost rudder

[mjohnh]

Need educated speculation........I was backing out of the slip and "bumped" the dock.....when I got on the water the rudder was non-existent.......I had it towed and it will be hauled out Monday.....any guesses .....the mechanic seems a little bumfuzzed......thankd.

[mjohnh]

Could this issue be explained, simply, by an Autopilot problem? Thoughts?

[Pitou]

I was backing out of the slip and "bumped" the dock.....when I got on the water the rudder was non-existent.......I had it towed and it will be hauled out Monday.....any guesses .....the mechanic seems a little bumfuzzed......thankd.

By non-existent, do you mean when you turn the steering wheel that the the rudder does not turn? Does the wheel turn lock to lock with no resistance? Is the helm full of hydraulic fluid? Possible hydraulic leak at the helm, autopilot pump or steering ram? Those are your basic starting off points. I do not see a reason to haul the boat as this can all be checked and more likely than not repaired while in the water.

My best guess and usual cause for your symptoms is a failed steering ram. If that's the case .. R&R, fill the helm and bleed.

[RobS]

.....the mechanic seems a little bumfuzzed.....

And "R&R" the mechanic too...

[mjohnh]

Wheel turns easily with little resistance....the hydraulic cylinders do move when viewed through the rear hatch......but, it just seems that the movement of the wheel is non-effective on the rudder...on only slightly so........before, very little turn of the wheel got noticeable results.....I just wonder if there is a sheer pin or something like that which broke when I 'bumped" the dock.....interesting......I am going to the boat in an hour or so and make sure that the auto pilot is off and see if the rudder has more resistance......

[Tree]

There is a 1/4" key on the rudder. It may have dropped out under the clamp as the keyway is quite long. Happened to me one day while on autopilot, I now carry a spare in my toolbox.

[mjohnh]

Thanks, Tree........ I just got back from inspecting it.........on my boat, the rudder piston is seen easily by opening the stern hatch. It operates when the wheel is turned, but very very slowly...........there is a clear hose line for the hydraulic oil on the piston.....it is empty.....does appear to be any oil in it at all.....even after operating it.........so, oil is low....I am going to ask the mechanic to fill it; bleed it; and check for leaks .....Not sure where the pump is......I suspect under the helm someplace......any ideas on that.............. You folks are having a time with this Brexit issue......oh well, you have been around for several centuries.....this will be a blip on the screen in the great scheme of history.....

[catalina_mike]

If you have a autopilot the easiest place on mine was behind the medicine chest (1999). Your wheel is the normal pump for the system even with a autopilot. But the two connect with each other so a check valve in either unit (autopilot or helm wheel) will cause a lack of pressure building and the rudder will not respond like normal.

[mjohnh]

Great...thank you.......will check that out.......

[Russell]

That tube with nothing in it is for bleeding. It is not supposed to have anything in it until you loosen the nipple and operate the cylinder. If you think you are low on fluid look in the fill hole behind the steering wheel and top off if needed.

[catalina_mike]

Hopefully the most likely cause, low fluid, will be the cure. Simple simon...

[drbob]

Option 1: The symptoms suggest low fluid. When you bumped the dock you probably burped it allowing air from the top of the reservoir into the system. Open the reservoir cap in front of the steering wheel. If don't see fluid, you've found the problem. Add fluid until you do. Close cap and turn the wheel back and forth about a half dozen times. You should get almost immediate results. Remove cap, top off as necessary. And you should be good to go. Take care when you removed the cap, there may be some overflow.

Option 2: Autopilot is on. Turn off.

Anything else. Take it to the yard.

[mjohnh]

Problem solved.......fluid was low..........odd......now horn does not work...............well....as per Roseanna Roseanna Dana always said.."if it is not one thing, it's another'..etc..... :

[zinbaad]

Sure is a lot better than a "Lost Rudder", lol

[RobS]

Sure is a lot better than a "Lost Rudder", lol

And a lot cheaper!

Hopefully the tow was free...