Skeg Shucking Back and Forth ?

[bcalfee]

We had a bunch of fiberglass work done to our skeg and rudder. We feel this at anchor although it must be happening all the time. If we are in an anchorage with some waves (1') and current that holds the boat off the wind, we can feel something shucking back and forth. Has anyone run into a situation where the fiberglass delams in a skeg so that the whole thing moves. What I thought it was at first was loose steering cable allowing the rudder to move back and forth even though the wheel was locked.

Hopefully someone can come up with something I can check...

[zeehag]

have you had a diver look at your problem, or have you dived this problem yourself yet??? you may wish to look at it so you know what is actually happening......

[bcalfee]

Yes, I will dive on it... (the water here is so cloudy and nasty. I will have to wear dry suit to protect from Jellyfish!!) I was hoping to have an idea of what to look for. Could the fiberglass have delaminated to allow the skeg to move without allowing water to leak in? I will of course, also check gudgeons...

[DeepFrz]

I would think its most likely your rudder, not the skeg. Although if your skeg is moving you have big problems. Maybe a bolt on the bottom rudder mount? Without more information or picture of the skeg rudder it is hard to say more.

Is there any slack in your steering system? Maybe just your rudder slapping back and forth.

[zeehag]

rudder brakes dont always work as well as ye think-- ye can tighten em down and still have movement--my ericson is kinda like that and so was the seidelmann 37 i was sailing on for a year....

[WillJacocks]

Could be a lot of play in the cable as well. I steered a Catalina 30 with pedestal steering and it was giving me the heebie jeebies with all the steering I was having to do to keep it going straight. I would say using quarter turns or more on the wheel. yeesh