SO 439 Emergency Rudder

[MilesCAN439]

We are looking at entering a few offshore races with our Sun Odyssey 439 and one of the requirements is secondary steering if something should happen to the rudder while offshore. Yes we could use drogues but I'm not too comfortable with that so we are looking at an emergency rudder. Has anyone done this with the drop down transom and have photos? The boat is so good looking that I'm trying to figure out a way to do this without ruining the look of the stern. Any thoughts and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[sitara]

I have set up a piece of plywood mounted on the spinnaker pole with a couple of U-shaped straps. The idea is to lash it to the pushpit and use it as something like a sweep oar.. I have not tried it yet and hope I never need it. The ply was from under one of the bunks that now has a few holes in it, so the only extra gear is the U-shaped straps and bolts.

[MilesCAN439]

We had it done this way on previous boats however we only fly assym's on this boat so we don't have a spinnaker pole. We are also thinking that if we are in the middle of the pacific that we would like to have something a little more robust. (I'm not sure if the jury rig spinnaker pole set-up would be allowed by the offshore regulations)

[hoppy]

I saw this video earlier today www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2014/04/14/guide-steering-without-rudder-methods-equipment-tested/

This seems to work very well and if I remember I think this year I will try this out.

[jdl01]

The drop transom on the 9 series has nowhere near the strength to support an emergency rudder or sweep oar.
Equally, the pushpits on these boats are far to weak to be any kind of anchor point for a sweep oar. Your best bet and easiest storage is a drogue system attached to your stern mooring cleats.

[dbostrom]

Excellent article on operating w/drogue steering here:

bermudarace.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Steering-without-a-Rudder.pdf

Useful comparisons of performance of differently sized drogues, amount of work necessary to operate the rig, efficacy of various operational modes. Some scenarios seem relatively labor intensive, requiring a lot of attention. 

[hoppy]

Jan 22, 2015 19:01:31 GMT dbostrom said:

Excellent article on operating w/drogue steering here:

bermudarace.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Steering-without-a-Rudder.pdf

Useful comparisons of performance of differently sized drogues, amount of work necessary to operate the rig, efficacy of various operational modes. Some scenarios seem relatively labor intensive, requiring a lot of attention. 

The PDF is the same "test" as in the video I posted. So we can read the "book" and watch the "movie"

[On y va]

I have a Hydrovane!!! 

[jdl01]

After 25000 miles with a hydrovane, I can recommend it to no one.

[dbostrom]

How is your hydrovane mounted, On y va?