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svloki · 07-10-2011, 01:21

Today, the crew of S/V Loki found a rudder and tiller that recently washed ashore on Vanua Levu Fiji. Looks like it might be off a 35-40 ft double ender. It is snapped in half, likely from reef impact. Can anybody identify the boat it came from? Might be a clue if the boat is missing, or just flotsam.

Details:
Construction is roving / polyester over a greenish foam core, heavy layer of CSM over that. Stainless reinforcement on head. Teak cheek plates covering the stainless weldment. Laminated teak tiller, heavy section. Track for windvane attachment, and connection pin for autopilot installed on top. Pivot bolt is 1/2" stainless. Bolts on sides are 3/8 * 6".

Photo attached

Blue Stocking · 07-10-2011, 06:53

No growth--recent loss

**James S** · 07-10-2011, 06:54

Hmm...no idea...its a good mystery.

znew · 09-10-2011, 23:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by svloki

Today, the crew of S/V Loki found a rudder and tiller that recently washed ashore on Vanua Levu Fiji. Looks like it might be off a 35-40 ft double ender. It is snapped in half, likely from reef impact. Can anybody identify the boat it came from? Might be a clue if the boat is missing, or just flotsam.

Details:
Construction is roving / polyester over a greenish foam core, heavy layer of CSM over that. Stainless reinforcement on head. Teak cheek plates covering the stainless weldment. Laminated teak tiller, heavy section. Track for windvane attachment, and connection pin for autopilot installed on top. Pivot bolt is 1/2" stainless. Bolts on sides are 3/8 * 6".

Photo attached

Thanks for the info.
Do you know if the weather was bad between Oct 4 and Oct 9? My closest friend is sailing on S/V Mooneshine (Fast Passage 39, registered Croton-On-Hudson, NY) but I have not heard from her since Oct 3 when she was leaving Denarau (Fiji) for Port Vila (Vanuatu).
The rudder and tiller don't look like they come from a Fast Passage 39 though, so I am hopeful there vessel is safe. She usually contacts me every 3 to 4 days, this is 7 days since our last communication...

mellowseas · 09-10-2011, 23:06

The rudder shape and construction looks like it came from a westsail 32.

daedaluscan · 09-10-2011, 23:18

This Westsail was lost in June 2010. The rudder looks similar in shape but the cheeks are different.

Alicia & Louie's Journey Across the Ocean

**GordMay** · 10-10-2011, 03:58

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, znew, and mellowseas.

**James S** · 10-10-2011, 04:02

Yeah...I think its still a mystery.

svloki · 10-10-2011, 13:57

ZNEW- It has been rainy light winds and occasionally blustery in the squalls here in the Fiji area, but nothing significant. Given the mostly light air I would not worry much about your friend. The passage to Vanuatu could take a much longer time than normal if she is not using her auxiliary in the calms.

You can request a "health and welfare" call on the SSB pacific seafarers net, they are very good at such things. A lot of us listen to that while underway, but to be fair a huge percentage don't listen when in port, so I would not fret if no answer.

JAMES-
I think that looks like a match! The stainless weldment I took off the head looks the same (I recycled it for some projects on Loki). Not Tar Baby's rudder, but perhaps a sister ship. Mystery continues. I can take a pic of the custom mounted track on the rudder, and the autopilot pin if further ID requires. Maybe it is a newer westsail design?

Bruce

**roverhi** · 10-10-2011, 15:05

It looks a lot like a rudder off a later Westsail 32. They had a molded in pocket for bronze pintles which it looks like this one has. The cheeks are like a W32 though stock cheeks were ash, not teak, though that could have changed on a later model. The tiller was attached to the rudder by a SS U-shaped welded fitting that fit inside the rudder cheeks. Looks like that SS piece has been unbolted and is sitting on top of the rudder in the picture.

znew · 10-10-2011, 15:31

Hi Bruce,
Thanks a lot for your message. Still no news from S/V Mooneshine.
I will follow your advice.

Re the rudder and tiller they look similar to a boat that was in Fiji a week ago, which I found on Find a Crew™ by NAUTYCAL - Look Better Online™ ID=146831

Pierre

Reefmagnet · 10-10-2011, 16:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by znew

Hi Bruce,
Thanks a lot for your message. Still no news from S/V Mooneshine.
I will follow your advice.

Re the rudder and tiller they look similar to a boat that was in Fiji a week ago, which I found on Find a Crew™ by NAUTYCAL - Look Better Online™ ID=146831

Pierre

that looks like a boat called "Freestyle". More info on it here: http://furthur.talkspot.com/uploads/...ail_lives.docx

Very close match, but to me the bolt holes in the rudder cheek look to have a slightly different pattern

Cheechako · 10-10-2011, 16:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reefmagnet

that looks like a boat called "Freestyle". More info on it here: http://furthur.talkspot.com/uploads/...ail_lives.docx

Very close match, but to me the bolt holes in the rudder cheek look to have a slightly different pattern

Many W32's were buyer finished, so one particular boat could have almost anything back there....