Mainship 400 Rudder

[Mainship Mike]

We are underway from NY to FL and lost our rudder in NJ not having any luck locating one. The yard we are in said can have one made if we can get the CAD drawings or measurements. Any suggestions on who made them for 2008 Mainship 400 Trawler would be great.

 

[Comodave]

Maybe try Buck Algonquin, they may have something that will work.

 

[Mainship Mike]

Thanks we tried them but they need casting numbers or dimensions which we don’t have. We have a local shop where we are that can fabricate one if we can get CAD drawings or dimensions if anyone has a similar vessel on the hard that can provide dimensions it would be great help

 

[rslifkin]

You don't necessarily need a perfect exact replacement. You just need something of an appropriate shape and design for the speed the boat runs and similar size to the original (or a little bigger if the mountings are strong enough).

 

[Mainship Mike]

Problem is don’t have the measurements to start with

 

[Comodave]

There should be some 400s coming out of the water for winter storage, hopefully someone will be able to do some measurements for you.

 

[DavidM]

And maybe someone who replaced their rudder with an articulating one has the old one and would sell it to you. You might want to contact the folks who make these (Google it, I can't remember their name) and ask them for leads.

My neighbor, in Oriental, NC replaced the rudder on their MS 400 with an articulating one.

David

 

[Mainship Mike]

I did try looking into articulating rudders but looks like they are out of business unless someone has contact info

 

[OldDan1943]

Sorry, gotta ask, how did you lose your rudder?
Just fell out the hole, rudder post and all? No shoe? Bet that was exciting....
"Hello Tow Boat...."

 

[Mainship Mike]

It cracked at hole in shaft looked like main have already had some previous damage and must have struck something. Uneventful but inconvenient

 

[OldDan1943]

It cracked at hole in shaft looked like main have already had some previous damage and must have struck something. Uneventful but inconvenient

It is fortunate the event was "uneventful"!!!!
There no shoe for lower support?

 

[Mainship Mike]

No

 

[OldDan1943]

https://www.google.com/search?clien...XOlB7YQsKwBKAB6BAg6EAE&biw=1377&bih=708&dpr=2

call around to see if one fits.

 

[garmstro55]

Maybe one of these?

 

[tachyon]

Mainship Rudder

We are underway from NY to FL and lost our rudder in NJ not having any luck locating one. The yard we are in said can have one made if we can get the CAD drawings or measurements. Any suggestions on who made them for 2008 Mainship 400 Trawler would be great.

I switched to an articulated rudder on our 2003 390 (single engine) many years ago. The factory rudder is still out behind the woodshed. I'm not sure how it compares to a 400 rudder, but I'm pretty sure its close. I can take some measurements and a pic tomorrow if you're interested. We're up near Ottawa, Ontario.

 

[Capt Mike]

Rudder dimensions

Problem is don’t have the measurements to start with

My 400 is coming out of the water next week. I’ll get you dimensions if no one else can before then.

 

[Mainship Mike]

Rudder

We are definitely interested if you still have it my cell is 914-447-0430 we think the casting # is MH-407 it should be stamped on the blade length top to bottom of blade 29.25” width at bottom of blade 14.5” and 1-3/4” shaft

 

[Max1]

I am in the process of making my own after the rudder was lost by the PO.

First thing I learned was single screw rudders and twin screw rudders are not the same!
My boat has a single screw. When I was searching, I found lots of twin screw rudders but they were tiny and not adequate nor robust enough for a single screw.

I decided to make my own.


My problem was the shaft was broken. It was a two-piece shaft that was bolted together through mating flanges. The rudder was lost when the upper flange departed from the upper shaft. Poor weld was the root cause.
With only the stub of the top-half of the shaft, making a new lower was going to be impossible


I ordered a stainless shaft 1-3/4" diameter that would run the entire length of the rudder.

For the rudder itself I have measured the rudder of several similar size single-screw boats that were in the boat-yard (I did it this fall when many boats were being pulled out for the winter season (Canada, Lake Ontario) In my case, the rudder for my size trawler seems to be about 18" long by 22-24" high (36' trawler)
With dimensions in hand, I ordered a stainless sheet steel that I would fold into an airfoil shaped rudder that would bolt onto the shaft along the 24" length.
Anyway, that's how I am solving my rudder problem. It may not work for you, but hopefully it gave you some ideas.

 

[tachyon]

The 390 rudder is not a match. The shaft is 1-1/2", and it's a few inches smaller in most dimensions. Too bad. Good luck with your search.

 

[OldDan1943]

Is this rudder loose a common problem for MSs? If so, might be time to drill a hole through the rudder and run a small line from the rudder up to a place on the swim platform?
Or perhaps bring an extra rudder.

 

[Mermaid]

My 2005 400 is out of the water and Ed is at the yard now. I’ve asked him to measure the rudder. Mine is a single engine.

 

[Mermaid]

Ed sent me photos of the rudder and tape measure.

 

[Newtrawlerowner]

I know there is a member of this forum that has her boat on the hard here in Florida. You my be able to fly down to Ft Lauderdale and take measurements. Her name is Angela Lovin. I think she goes by Mermaid. Anyway I have her telephone number and email. PM me and I’ll give it to you.

 

[OldDan1943]

Suggestion: might want to get 3 made. One for this replacement, one for future replacement and one for a friend?

 

[OldDan1943]

You might consider taking some 'butcher paper' and trace the rudder?

 

[Alan Mainship]

Mike : I have a 2004 ms 400 twin 240 hp and have a rudder that has quite a bit of corrosion and was wondering if you found a rudder or did you have one manufactured? Any additional info would be appreciated.

 

[Mainship Mike]

We had one custom made out of stainless steel in New Jersey. I did find out they were made by Marine Hardware about 8-10 weeks lead time. I have model and other info if you need it

 

[Mainship Mike]

Marine Hardware MH-407 I believe if you give me an email I can forward the spec sheet with dimensions

 

[Alan Mainship]

abc.sc@mvtel.net
Thank you so much, my mainship is being serviced for cutless and dripless and so far rudders may also need replacing. Could you also tell me what they charged to make your new one?

 

[Mainship Mike]

It was $5500 plus labor $800 I know there was a member in the Chesapeake Bay who had an old one