Rudder stops

djleu · Dec 14, 2016

How unusual is it for a boat not to have rudder stops? Our boat is 12 years old. We have had it for 7 years and not had any problems.

Is this something every boat should have?

What are possible consequences if we continue not to have them.

Are cable stops the best solution?

Thanks for any experience you can share.

Cheers,

Don

AKDoug · Dec 14, 2016

None on my boat... I would think a well built hydraulic ram would be quite strong enough for any reasonable load, anything the ram wouldn't handle would probably damage some other part of the system or the rudder. It might be better to lose the ram than to break something else that would cost more to repair. Just my thoughts...

Looking forward to other thoughts on the subject

LaBomba · Dec 14, 2016

AKDoug said:
None on my boat... I would think a well built hydraulic ram would be quite strong enough for any reasonable load, anything the ram wouldn't handle would probably damage some other part of the system or the rudder. It might be better to lose the ram than to break something else that would cost more to repair. Just my thoughts...

Looking forward to other thoughts on the subject

X2, the end of the stroke of the ram in both directions is essentially the rudder stop. I don't have stops either.

kapnd · Dec 15, 2016

I think the stops are a holdover from the days of mechanical and cable steering.
My boat has them, and they were a good reference point for setting up the hydraulic system, but I don't see the necessity of having them.
I suppose if something broke while the boat was moving backwards, the stops would prove helpful.

markpierce · Dec 15, 2016

Got stops and hydraulic steering, but I'd have, and do, a rudder-indicator nevertheless.

koliver · Dec 15, 2016

Rudder Stops?
I haven't had cable steering tho. Only a tiller or hydraulic. So no stops.
My Dad had a boat on which the tiller steering would allow you to spin the rudder 360 degrees. Handy for backing down.

bayview · Dec 15, 2016

with a big rudder and going astern pressure on the rudder can get high. Possibly in overtaking ses as well. A Stop is cheap insurance against broken steering. In either direction rudder angle beyond a certain point acts more as a brake than steering device.

djleu · Dec 15, 2016

Thanks very much for sharing your experiences and thoughts. We have a GB so rudders are pretty small though I do not know how solid the rudder posts are. We also have hydraulic steering so rams may serve as effective stops. Have a good rudder indicator, too. I wonder if there are any other GBs with hydraulic steering and rudder stops? Thanks again for taking the time to share your thoughts!

Cheers,

Don

Ski in NC · Dec 15, 2016

Handy if rudder hardware breaks. Back down in that instance and rudder tangles with prop. Bad JuJu.

If you sense loss of steering, just do not back down.

Rudder stops

djleu

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AKDoug

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LaBomba

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kapnd

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markpierce

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koliver

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bayview

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djleu

Veteran Member

Ski in NC

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