42 Ocean Alexander rudder type

[liquidsands]

I'm looking at a 1987 Ocean Alexander 42 with twin 3208's. I have not been able to find a pic of one hauled out. Does anyone know if the rudders are stag mounted or if they have a lower support? Also if anyone has a pic of one hauled out I'd love to see it.

 

[Comodave]

I doubt that it has any bottom support on the rudders. Usually single engine boats have that. Some twin engine boats do have bottom support but not the majority as to what I have seen.

 

[liquidsands]

I doubt that it has any bottom support on the rudders. Usually single engine boats have that. Some twin engine boats do have bottom support but not the majority as to what I have seen.

I suspected the same, but you never know for sure unless you see the real thing. As many OA's as there are out there I hoped someone would know for sure. I am going to Alaska and after living up there for 8 years, I really want a well built boat with lower supports. Deadheads and logs in the water are common and lower supports have saved my butt from damage more than once at night. Also it's mostly all rock there. If an emergency beaching ever became necessary the boat fares much better. There are just not that many haulout facilities.

 

[liquidsands]

don't have its pic but these are supported by a lower bearing or strut, not stag-mounted. you might have to check with yachtforums where others may have posted photos of similar boats. It's a solid design, but photos of a hauled-out model would confirm the setup more clearly.

Thanks for the reply. I'm still lookin' for a haulout pic. Maybe I'll just have to go dive under it myself to see.

 

[NStenger]

Here is a shot of our 1985 OA 38 in the slings.

 

[Comodave]

When we brought our last boat home we traveled 1,400 miles. It was a twin engine trawler, sorta. It had a small keel that went down about 4 or 5” below the props. Coming up the Hudson River we hit submerged objects over 15 times. We drove that boat from the flybridge and some of the strikes would shudder the boat all the way up to the flybridge. I was extremely concerned about the props and rudders. When we got to the Big Chute I asked the lockmaster to look at my props and rudders to see how bad they were. He said there was no damage which I confirmed when we hauled for the winter. My point being that if you have some keel sticking below the props you may never have any issues, but you might. After that trip I didn’t worry so much about submerged debris. Our current twin engine boat has no keel and the props have absolutely no protection so I worry about it now.

 

[rslifkin]

When we brought our last boat home we traveled 1,400 miles. It was a twin engine trawler, sorta. It had a small keel that went down about 4 or 5” below the props. Coming up the Hudson River we hit submerged objects over 15 times. We drove that boat from the flybridge and some of the strikes would shudder the boat all the way up to the flybridge. I was extremely concerned about the props and rudders. When we got to the Big Chute I asked the lockmaster to look at my props and rudders to see how bad they were. He said there was no damage which I confirmed when we hauled for the winter. My point being that if you have some keel sticking below the props you may never have any issues, but you might. After that trip I didn’t worry so much about submerged debris. Our current twin engine boat has no keel and the props have absolutely no protection so I worry about it now.

I've had generally similar experiences. The keel on my boat is a couple of inches shallower than the props, but the only time I've dinged a prop was when I found a piece of debris sticking up from the bottom. Anything that was semi-floating hasn't been an issue. I've had one boat-shaking hit like Comodave described and some minor thumps over time, never any damage. There was one time I heard something bounce off a prop or rudder after hitting the keel, but it didn't cause any damage so I'm thinking it hit a rudder. In the hits I've had at low speed I do try to reduce the risk of prop damage, so as soon as I hear a thump it's a 2 handed motion to slam the throttles to idle and pull the gears into neutral.

Generally it seems like the things I've hit have either been pushed out to the side by the hull, or have bounced along or hit the keel and gotten kicked down far enough to clear the props and rudders. At least one of the items was submerged before we hit it (not visible), but after the single thump against the keel it popped up in our wake, then sank back out of sight.

 

[liquidsands]

When we brought our last boat home we traveled 1,400 miles. It was a twin engine trawler, sorta. It had a small keel that went down about 4 or 5” below the props. Coming up the Hudson River we hit submerged objects over 15 times. We drove that boat from the flybridge and some of the strikes would shudder the boat all the way up to the flybridge. I was extremely concerned about the props and rudders. When we got to the Big Chute I asked the lockmaster to look at my props and rudders to see how bad they were. He said there was no damage which I confirmed when we hauled for the winter. My point being that if you have some keel sticking below the props you may never have any issues, but you might. After that trip I didn’t worry so much about submerged debris. Our current twin engine boat has no keel and the props have absolutely no protection so I worry about it now.

Comforting thought Comodave! I commercially fished Alaska for years and years. Lived in Alaska for 8 years too. I've seen more logs in the water there than anywhere I've been. I know that "shudder feeling" you are talking about and it gives me the willies to this day. This boat is one we want to live on so we'll have everything important on it. It is looking like the OA we are interested in likely does not have lower supports. I try to run very carefully, but still you never know what lurks ahead.
I'm guessing you're talking about going on the great loop. I've never run the loop before but I bet the waters are much trickier than inside passage waters. By the way, thanks for all the great advice and contributions you so often give.

 

[Comodave]

No, not the Great Loop, we were just bringing the boat back to Michigan. The trip was a part of the GL but that was not our intention. However it was an awesome trip home.

 

[Nautica]

Maybe ask Ocean Alexander for drawings?

 

[learjett2]

Heres the latest from my 1988 42' OA sedan. Recently hauled.
Hope this helps

 

[Rufus]

here's a photo of a 44 OA...same arrangement, I believe...