Sailing/motoring from Oahu to Maui with broke rudder?

[Tim francis]

Looking for ideas on how to get my Catalina 400 fin keel with spade rudder With no steering to Maui or preferably Kona on the big island. End destination is big island. I have friends and resources on Maui. I was moving to Kauai where I got mixed up with a friend that I trusted and he scammed me. It’s getting pretty dirty so time to leave before I’m on the news.

The armature broke inside the rudder. To put it simple, I need to get off Oahu and if I was on big island to get hauled out, all my problems would be solved.

- I’ve considered trying to find an auxiliary rudder and mounting it. I coukd use it/ keep it in the v berth for the future.

- I’m considering getting a tow/ escort from friends on Maui with capable boats to tow.

- I’m considering getting towed out a mile then lashing two or four lines to the 70 inch spade rudder leading to the pullies along with a drogue. Possibly with an auxiliary rudder with tiller also.

- I seriously doubt tow boat us insurance would cover that tow but I’m still going to ask.


I would of course wait for a two day weather window. About half or less than half the trip would be somewhat in the lee of lanai and big island.
I have legitimate reasons for leaving Oahu and can’t spend months here waiting to get a new rudder or have it repaired.

I’d be interested in a monitor wind vane with emergency rudder too but by the time I got it and installed it, it would be bad for me. I’m looking at leaving in the next weather window.

Someone suggested a cassette rudder. I think that’s super cool but time is a very big factor.

In my mind, if I can get 200 ft of three strand off a bridle off the stern motoring, I could use it as a drogue along with the rudder with lines off the rudder going forward.

I’m open to any suggestions that aren’t stay on Oahu where it’s safe to get it fixed.

Thanks.

[Michael Cobbe]

A windvane would work on passage but it cannot be used in marina. The only option is to be towed, check if the marina has a boat that can take you to a pontoon.

[sailormed]

Look up photos of windvanes attached to your type of boat.
Use this as a guide to put together an emergency rudder.
Sail away.

[LittleWing77]

You can also steer by your sails in a pinch. (This is generally more of an emergency technique used in the event of losing one's rudder underway.)

Mainsail takes you up to the wind, headsail takes you off of the wind.

But like Michael Cobbe says, it won't get you on the dock...
LittleWing77

[Manateeman]

Hi. Not sure if I understand the problem. The rudder shaft is loose inside the rudder ? The boat is out of the water as in the pictures ?
If yes to both, several different solutions are possible.
If you go to sea and do not have a functioning rudder and a legal tow, you put yourself at risk of loosing any legal action against you. The USCG might take you off your boat and deal with it as they think best.
Why can’t it be fixed or another rudder added where it is now.
Manatee

[rslifkin]

If you've got one of the higher tier Boat US memberships, call them and ask if they'd cover the tow. Their top tier will cover a dock to dock tow for repair supposedly (next tier down will cover 50%), so it's worth asking them.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by rslifkin

If you've got one of the higher tier Boat US memberships, call them and ask if they'd cover the tow. Their top tier will cover a dock to dock tow for repair supposedly (next tier down will cover 50%), so it's worth asking them.

You can always ask but usually they want to take you to the nearest repair facility.

But be careful, if they get information that you are planning to leave with a non-seaworthy boat, there might be a clause that let's them out of paying if things go sideways. Even if you don't tell them, good chance it comes out and they refuse to pay.

This isn't a couple miles across a bay. Get it fixed. I'm still not quite clear from the pictures what failed. It can be an ugly fix but make sure it's a functional fix. Then once you get her home, you can tear out the ugly fix and do it right.

[boatman61]

It looks similar to something that happened at sea on my Van de Stadt.. top and bottom the join of the stock came apart.
Mine was somewhat simpler to fix though I did crush a finger trying to judge and guide the bottom section into the upper in the sea's as we lay ahull and the rudder was slamming around..
There must be a way to put a clamp round the top section and run a couple of bolts down to the fitting on the lower which looks to have dedicated holes in the collar.. the stock itself does not look broken if what I can see in the picture is what I think, just come apart.
A temp fix is all you need if motoring, I would not risk sail loads.

[Scubaseas]

I assume you are saying the webbing is detached from the rudder shaft? Can you move the rudder up and down any? A crude fix would be to drill holes through the rudder and attach ropes which lead thwart-ship to cleats, winches or block & tackle. Stronger but same principle would be to through bolt pad eyes to the rudder. Ideally around 1/4 to 1/5 of the the cord from trailing edge. You want enough meat of the rudder to not crack it but the more forward you do it the more effort required. Flat plates of G10 or plate would be nice under the pad eyes. Balance the sails no matter what you do. Having a buddy boat capable of tow to follow you would be a good idea too.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Scubaseas

I assume you are saying the webbing is detached from the rudder shaft? Can you move the rudder up and down any? A crude fix would be to drill holes through the rudder and attach ropes which lead thwart-ship to cleats, winches or block & tackle. Stronger but same principle would be to through bolt pad eyes to the rudder. Ideally around 1/4 to 1/5 of the the cord from trailing edge. You want enough meat of the rudder to not crack it but the more forward you do it the more effort required. Flat plates of G10 or plate would be nice under the pad eyes. Balance the sails no matter what you do. Having a buddy boat capable of tow to follow you would be a good idea too.

If that's what happened, just grind down to the webbing and re-weld it (use extra straps welded on top of the old if needed to make is strong). Then slap some thickened epoxy and fiberglass over the top. It doesn't have to be pretty and you can use mild steel from Home Depot as it only has to hold up for a couple days, so corrosion isn't a big consideration. Should take an afternoon and you don't need a marine specialist to do the welding.

If it's something else that failed, a little detail would be helpful.

[Catboat Willy]

Why not just build yourself a completely separate new rudder system from readily available parts from Home depot and get out of there before this guy hits you with a mechanics lien. With the walk through transom on your Catalina 42 this should be an easy job. A piece of 4x8 3/4" plywood cut in half bolted to the strongest wood or electrical conduit pipe (more like a yuele) will build you a satisfactory emergency rudder. I motored 200 miles to Bermuda using a spinnaker pole and a hatch cover as a rudder when mine broke during a race. From your post, it sounds like your very life is threatened in which case you need to hire a protection service . Some good advice offered above. Best of luck to ya. Bill
de....w2cwl

[Discovery 15797]

Tim, your personal issues aside what you are planning is highly dangerous.

You will be going against prevailing winds, waves, current. You will also be crossing 2 channels that can be both unpredictable and treacherous at times. Maui Channel winds often exceed 20 knots. And you will be trying to do that in a compromised boat.

With a faulty rudder you will not be sailing even if you have a wind vane steering system as it will be damn near impossible to balance the boat under sail. Steering with a drogue works downwind...you'll be beating into the wind.

Towboat will typically take to to the nearest repair facility...exactly where you are currently (I suspect at Keehi).

If you were to get a tow from friends, you would likely not be making a rhumb line course. You will stay closer to the islands and in the wind shadow (hopefully), and probably making less than 5 knots.

It seems to me that you are risking your safety (and possibly others) and possibly your boat on personal grievances rather than prudence. Good luck.

[redneckrob]

I was stationed at Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point and we had to rescue more than one person who let their poor decision making put others at risk. You got yourself into a bad personal situation and now you're putting a bunch of other people at risk to rectify it without even considering the risk to them. I'll be blunt with you, that's the height of selfishness. If you honestly think your life is in danger contact HPD or leave the island by other means. Don't put others lives at risk with a half-baked plan necessitater only by you and your failures, that's the ultimate jerk move.

[Creedence]

Originally Posted by redneckrob

I was stationed at Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point and we had to rescue more than one person who let their poor decision making put others at risk. You got yourself into a bad personal situation and now you're putting a bunch of other people at risk to rectify it without even considering the risk to them. I'll be blunt with you, that's the height of selfishness. If you honestly think your life is in danger contact HPD or leave the island by other means. Don't put others lives at risk with a half-baked plan necessitater only by you and your failures, that's the ultimate jerk move.

A lifetime ago I was an army helicopter pilot on Oahu, and yeah, I hate to say it, but this. I’ve seen enough of this in the islands as well.

Lash your rudder amidships and steer via your sails, but you had better have your solution upon arrival locked tight, otherwise you’re firmly in turd territory by making others risk themselves to come save you.

And that’s about as far as an Internet forum can help you on this situation. Anything else requires lawyers, Captains, tradesmen, etc.

Aloha

[Creedence]

Also, Tim I won’t say stay on Oahu and get fixed, it I’ve done what you’re proposing, so... it in hindsight. yeah I think I’ll say it... stay on Oahu and get fixed. You’re not asking about getting towed across Tampa Bay. The Hawaiian islands are ocean cruising. Don’t fool yourself that they aren’t because you can see them from each other. Be safe friend.