Spare PDQ36 Rudder Question

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Spare PDQ36 Rudder Question

Posted by Bonnie Ford (s/v Kokomo) on November 17, 2003 at 10:32:00:

We are debating on whether to carry a spare rudder when we go cruising (in 7 1/2
months). We're curious as to how many of you actually have a spare?
And how many of you have needed a spare rudder in an emergency?
If you did need one and didn't have a spare, where were you, and how long did it
take you to get one from PDQ and at what cost?
For those of you who carry a spare on board your 36... where in the heck do you
store it? How heavy is that thing???
Thanks very much!

Follow Ups:

Re: Spare PDQ36 Rudder Question Chet White 14:16:16 11/28/03 (0)
Re: Spare PDQ36 Rudder Question Marc Gershel 10:58:43 11/24/03 (0)
Re: Spare PDQ36 Rudder Question Colin Swithenbank 07:07:57 11/23/03 (0)

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Re: Spare PDQ36 Rudder Question

Posted by Chet White on November 28, 2003 at 14:16:00:
In Reply to: Spare PDQ36 Rudder Question posted by Bonnie Ford (s/v Kokomo) on
November 17, 2003 at 10:32:00:

I have bent two rudders in the ICW, one in the Carolinas & one in Florida. Both
times the rudder jammed against the bottom of the hull rendering the steering
inoperable. NEVER TRY TO FORCE THE WHEEL, YOU WILL BREAK OR BEND SOMETHING!
After anchoring quickly, we were able to easily disconnect the tie-rod end and
steer the boat to a suitable anchorage or dock using the emergency tiller on the
unjammed rudder

It is then a fairly simple matter (if the bolts are not corroded into the holes
) to loosen the clamping bolts ( after first securing it with a line), lower it
two inches, and reclamp it. It seems to operate just fine even when bent, as
Mark said

A replacement used to cost around $500+ with another $500 or so to ship it as it
is quite long and heavy. You need about 5ft of water under the hull to get it
out as I recall

I do not carry a spare
Chet
Allezcat 36010

Follow Ups:

Re: Spare PDQ36 Rudder Question

Posted by Marc Gershel on November 24, 2003 at 10:58:00:
In Reply to: Spare PDQ36 Rudder Question posted by Bonnie Ford (s/v Kokomo) on
November 17, 2003 at 10:32:00:

Hi,just a funny note. We bought our boat in FL. in 1997,and while bringing it
north I ran into a submerged piling when going in reverse. Everything seemed to
be operating OK,so I continued up to the Chesapeake & forgot all about the
incident. Sailed all that summer,had a great tme in our "new" boat. In the fall
,had the boat hauled,& as it lifted clear of the water,surprise,surprise. My
stbd rudder was bent forward almost 45deg. Never had a clue. After I replaced
it,I thought the boat would handle or perform differently, but there was no
difference. Maybe I could have saved a few bucks & left it the way it was,ya
think?
Marc

Follow Ups:

Re: Spare PDQ36 Rudder Question

Posted by Colin Swithenbank on November 23, 2003 at 07:07:00:
In Reply to: Spare PDQ36 Rudder Question posted by Bonnie Ford (s/v Kokomo) on
November 17, 2003 at 10:32:00:

Bonnie:[/i]

We don't carry a spare rudder on Cadenza and have never needed one. If you hit
something with the wheel straight ahead the rudder cannot bend back very far
because the back/top of the rudder hits the hull. This happened to us once and
we bent it back with a line round the bottom of the rudder to a block on the bow
then back to a winch. Probably a better alternative is to drop the rudder a
couple of inches so it no longer binds on the hull

Colin