Busted rudder

[HAVASANGER]

I was taking my brother for a ride in my 18' Sanger hydro three weeks ago, and the wind was kicking up the water on Havasu, so we headed up river, about 5 miles from the launch ramp to speed alley, for some smoother water. I was up to about 85 when I tried to turn a little, and it wasn't turning. I got the thing slowed down before we hit the reeds, jumped out in waist deep water, felt underneath, and my rudder was gone! So I figured I'd call my wife to launch her 26' Caribbean to tow us home, when I realized my cell phone was in my pocket, under a foot of water. We started idling back, using my paddle to steer, but that was taking too long, so I tried getting it up on plane. It went pretty straight, just hooking to the right a little. So we'd go about a quarter mile, slow down and turn it left with the paddle, then go again. Made it back no problem. Does anybody have a used wedge type rudder (1" shaft) for sale?

[GofastRacer]

Dude, do you want this to happen again??, you were lucky!..I broke a rudder in a turn before, no fun!!...Buy a new one!!!, A used one could be as tired as the one you just broke!, think about it....Just my .02 worth..... http://free.***boat.net/ubb/frown.gif

[superdave013]

Originally posted by GofastRacer:
Dude, do you want this to happen again??, you were lucky!..I broke a rudder in a turn before, no fun!!...Buy a new one!!!, A used one could be as tired as the one you just broke!, think about it....Just my .02 worth..... http://free.***boat.net/ubb/frown.gif
That's right, get a new one. Contact Doug Barber @ Barber Welding 562 928-2570
His rudders are the shit. All heat treated and very nice. I can't remember what I paid but it was not that bad.

[superdave013]

Oh, you're a lucky SOB you didn't crash that thing!

[GofastRacer]

Originally posted by superdave013:
That's right, get a new one. Contact Doug Barber @ Barber Welding 562 928-2570
His rudders are the shit. All heat treated and very nice. I can't remember what I paid but it was not that bad.
Shit,who cares about the price, beats goin on your ass at 80 plus!!!.....LOL........

[superdave013]

Originally posted by GofastRacer:
Shit,who cares about the price, beats goin on your ass at 80 plus!!!.....LOL........
You would be supprised.

[stressedout]

Are you sure it broke? Maybe it droppped out. I have seen this happen. Always check everything to be sure it's tight.Was it chrome plated? When you get another one make sure it's not chrome, so you can check it for cracks. Good Luck

[63stevens]

Barber Welding has been making rudders for years. Doug's dad made rudders for Hallcraft many years ago. Infact my dad used to help Doug's dad build rudders years ago. The rudder I have on my 63 stevens was built by Barber Welding. Mine is made of Stainless. I'm not sure that's what you want but you might ask Doug how a stainless rudder would hold up under your situation.

[Bluefin]

I have a brass rudder that I would let go at a reasonable price. Say $40.00. Em mdc@csdidaho.com Thanks Mike

[pgf127rt]

If the rudder had fallen out of the boat and not broken off it would have sunk the boat in a flash, ever had one leak just a little?
[This message has been edited by pgf127rt (edited May 16, 2002).]

[stressedout]

Originally posted by pgf127rt:
If the rudder had fallen out of the boat and not broken off it would have sunk the boat in a flash, ever had one leak just a little?
[This message has been edited by pgf127rt (edited May 16, 2002).]
Yes I have. Been there. I broke the water pick up grate on my sanger, fortunately most sanger hydros were built with self bailing bilges. I had a 1'' hole in the bottom of the boat,as long as i was moving i was ok. I was 7 miles from the ramp when this happened. I had friends that had my trailer in the water when I got there.

[pgf127rt]

Stressedout, can you imagine the same scenario in a tail draggin flatbottom, with no self bailing bilge?
I was on a pass in the PGF and evidently the pressure blew the o-ring in the stuffer, only a small leak but the results on shutdown with water moving very quickly from back to front almost put me over the dash, and if you ever saw the Redding video that is the bad way to exit,LOL.

[HAVASANGER]

Thanks for the input, guys. When I looked underneath the boat after I got it on the trailer, I could see that it was cracked at least 75% of the way through previously. It's amazing how straight the boat went without any rudder at all. I guess the strut acts like a rudder. I'll say it's a good hull design, though.