Boat will not go backwards in straight line after grounding

[pipmason]

Hello

Not sure what I have done but after being towed off a mudbank with a lot of strain on the rudder etc., on berthing discovered that now the boat veers sharply only to starboard in reverse. Formerly would go backwards straight and to both port and starboard . Any help suggestions prior to haul out would be appreciated ( Haul out November 1 )
.Boat is a Trapper 28 501 with a very big rudder and a Beta 16 inboard. Twin keel, about 3 tons .

Thanks

Philip

[Orion Jim]

Dive to inspect or haul out. Perhaps you have bent the rudder shaft or damaged the rudder blade.

[Chotu]

Time for a swim.

Just a mask and a jump off the stern will have it all figured out in a second.

You bent something, most likely.

[Macdyver]

Agreed with the above. Not a whole lot you can do without putting eyes on the rudder itself. Either hop in and take a swim or think about an earlier haulout.



Unfortunately, you've probably got some fun repairwork ahead of you.

[Finalee]

Could also have picked up a crab pot or something like it.

[Macdyver]

Originally Posted by Finalee

Could also have picked up a crab pot or something like it.

True enough. Either way, really the only way to sort things is to hop in and a have a look.

[pipmason]

Thank you all for the consensus : I need to get wet! Good old muddy English yacht club in early autumn , I will be more careful with my starboard channel markers next time !

Any broad indications of what I might need to do if the rudder shaft bent - I would like to belt it with a sledgehammer when it out of the water but suspect that this would not work ?

Philip

[jeanathon]

No sledgehammers, but first things first. See what the problem is. I am betting an old pram.

[Macdyver]

Originally Posted by pipmason

Any broad indications of what I might need to do if the rudder shaft bent - I would like to belt it with a sledgehammer when it out of the water but suspect that this would not work ?

Philip

That'll depend exactly on the structure of the rudder, the degree of the bend, and location of the bend, but it's probably going to be a little more involved than just belting it with a sledge unfortunately. Looking at pics of the rudder on a Trapper, if there is a bend, I would bet that it's going to be in the rudderpost right between the top of the rudder and the hull. Probably going to need to drop the rudder to be able to straighten the shaft.



If you're lucky and it's a slight bend, you may be able to straighten it as is, using some creativity, some blocks, and a come-along, but I've had rudders bent badly enough that I had to cut out the shaft and replace it. Hard telling without seeing yours.


Also, worth doing some careful inspection in the fiberglass around the upper bearing/stuffing box. Stress on the rudder can cause some damage to the glass there.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by pipmason

Thank you all for the consensus : I need to get wet! Good old muddy English yacht club in early autumn ,Philip

You mean they didn't tell you about this sort of stuff at the boatshow, that's dishonest at least

I have just spent 3 tides doing a cutless bearing that didn't want to come out. I guess the finger nails will grow back eventually and the wife will get the mud out of the jeans somehow and that is with wearing chest waders. A brilliant buy if you haven't got any

[Deep Blue Water]

Have you ever tweaked the front of a bicycle and the handlebars don't match the front wheel? It may be that the rudder is off in relation to the wheel, in other words you think the rudder is straight but it's actually canted to one side. Loosening the rudder post and resetting would resolve the issue.

[Lazy Jack 32]

Do let us know what you learn from the dive, now we're all curious. Thanks,

[Clivevon]

Originally Posted by Deep Blue Water

Have you ever tweaked the front of a bicycle and the handlebars don't match the front wheel? It may be that the rudder is off in relation to the wheel, in other words you think the rudder is straight but it's actually canted to one side. Loosening the rudder post and resetting would resolve the issue.

Like it! You might be lucky. Personally i would think about putting my iphone in a waterproof case, lashing it to a long boathook, getting alongside in a dinghy & videoing the underwater hull, before jumping into the cold water? Or buy a wetsuit at least.

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by Deep Blue Water

Have you ever tweaked the front of a bicycle and the handlebars don't match the front wheel? It may be that the rudder is off in relation to the wheel, in other words you think the rudder is straight but it's actually canted to one side. Loosening the rudder post and resetting would resolve the issue.

Maybe you pulled the tiller to hard, or wheel and the quadrant moved a bit or wire slipped.
Sounds pretty logical.
Soft grounding could have whacked it off center.
SV Cloud Duster

[waterman46]

You don't notice any change in the steering when in forward, only in reverse? Can you steer OK in forward? Find center of rudder angle by turning wheel lock to lock counting turns, then center on 1/2 the turns. Motor forward and see what happens.

If it's not severe, what's the problem using the boat then looking at it in November?