Alberg 35 rudder post

[galleywench]

Hi all,
I am hoping there are a few A35 owners watching this board who can give me some info/advice. In the boat's current configuration, there is wheel steering with no emergency tiller backup in the event that a cable jumps a sheave and gets jambed (or other steering failure). I have never been comfortable with this and decided that in the course of this rebuild I will likely be removing the pedestal steering and returning the boat to its original tiller steered configuration (I have always liked the feel and simplicity of a tiller more than wheel steering). I may back off on fully removing the pedestal steering since several family members have expressed concern over this, but I want to at least provide the mechanism for an emergency tiller should the need arise.

Anyway, this weekend I decided I would pull up some of the teak from the cockpit sole and see what lives underneath. What I found was not really what I expected... The steerer tube that appears to be sort of funnel shaped from the underside was just a 1.5 - 2.0" fiberglass tube (I forgot to measure the diameter) that was flush with the old deck and the rudder post was about 1.5" down in the tube (See pix). There is no keyway on the post or any signs that it was cut, but I don't know how a rudder head would attach. I am hoping that I won't have to replace the rudder post, but I don't know what the original looked like.

So do any A35 owners out there (or anyone for that matter) have any pictures, insight, or ideas regarding how the rudder post and rudder head should be configured?

[Ric in Richmond]

Rudder tube on my boat rises about 1.5 inches above the deck and then is capped with a bronze collar that the tiller head rides on. The tiller head is the typical chrome bronze affair.

Hope that helps!

[galleywench]

Thanks Ric,
Not really what I wanted to hear, but at least I know now... The rudder post must have either been dropped and cut or replaced with a shorter one at some point. I am guessing that it was replaced since the post is stainless and I'm not sure but I think that the original posts were bronze. In any event, it means a lot more work (and dollars) if I am to return it to a tiller config.

[Ric in Richmond]

My post is stainless but I think it may have been replaced when the rudder was rebuilt. The post itself is probably 3 inches proud of the cockpit sole.

[galleywench]

hmmm, maybe the originals were stainless. Sadly though, mine is about 2-3 inches below the cockpit sole, so there is no way I could retrofit a standard rudderhead.

[Quetzalsailor]

Sounds similar to the LeComte. The rudder post is squared at the top end, recessed about 2" below the cockpit floor. The cockpit floor has a chromed bronze Perko deck plate. The emergency tiller is a huge, long, heavy affair with a square socket.

Given that your access was not convenient and you do not describe a shape on the end of the post suitable for a tiller, perhaps there was no intent to provide emergency steering on your boat, or someone eliminated the possibility. Should be relatively easy to correct the lack.

I've had the pleasure of steering a Columbia 57, in a blow, at night, with its 30" emergency tiller. The steering position was sitting on a berth in the aft cabin with no compass and no visibility of anything.

[Quetzalsailor]

Here's a site showing our emergency tiller, arranged to reach a recessed rudderpost: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk90 ... %20Tiller/

[galleywench]

perhaps there was no intent to provide emergency steering on your boat, or someone eliminated the possibility. Should be relatively easy to correct the lack.

You are spot on, I spoke with the previous owner and he said that his plan for an emergency tiller was to drop the anchor and call the Coast Guard. Not a plan in my opinion. I really have no desire to drop the rudder but I don't see any other way around it unless I decide to forget the whole thing; I don't think I could machine a keyway or square up the head with it in place... I still have MANY other projects/problems in front of me before I need to work on this so I will probably table it until I really need to worry about it.

I've had the pleasure of steering a Columbia 57, in a blow, at night, with its 30" emergency tiller. The steering position was sitting on a berth in the aft cabin with no compass and no visibility of anything.

That must have been interesting.

[Rachel]

I've had the pleasure of steering a Columbia 57, in a blow, at night, with its 30" emergency tiller. The steering position was sitting on a berth in the aft cabin with no compass and no visibility of anything.

Oh fun!

[John Stone]

Deck Grunge,
I am in the midst of converting my cape dory 36 from wheel to tiller. I have documented my efforts on my website. Some of work is posted here: http://farreachvoyages.com/projects/rudderproject.html

What is not posted yet is how I am connecting the old rudder post to the extension and tiller head.

I bought a bronze tiller head from Edson Marine--not cheap but there was no other option and they had the only one that would fit my 1 1/2" diameter rudder post. Then, I also bought a bronze rudder post coupling with a key way in each end that fits my 1 1/2" diameter shaft. I had a key way machined in my rudder post (yes you have to drop the rudder and it is no small project on my boat:)). That part is completed. When I reinstall the rudder, I will measure and add a SS rudder post extension (about 7" long) and the coupling will connect it to the old rudder post. The coupling will be below the cock pit floor by 1/2/ inch. The top of the extension will have a key way that matches the keyway cut in the tiller head.

I fabricated an epoxy tube about 6" long that will be mounted in the deck plate that the rudder post passes through. You can buy one but Spartan Marine wanted $100 for one foot of fiberglass tube. I made one by waxing my rudder post and wrapping it with epoxy wetted out tape. This tube will be mounted (glassed in) to the deck plate I'll build and provide some support to the tiller extension and keeps water from getting inside the boat.

Also, My boat has a self aligning bearing and pillow-block just below where the coupling will be so the rudder post is supported their as well. The bracket and block are depicted on the weblink above as well.

Good luck.

John

[galleywench]

Nice writeup on your site, I'm looking forward to seeing pix of the connections.