frank e wille
05-25-2002, 11:01 AM
lost steering on way out of marina a few weeks ago!!? Rudder seemed okay after a year on hard. Had restuffed rudder shaft since it was taking water up the shaft on initial run from Annapolis to home port of Havre De Grace MD. Symptoms of failure i say prop hittig rudder steering ineffectual leaving Marina: Right side of 180degrees of motion ok, left side had no control except at last 15 degrees of tiller arc, Also made sound like prop hitting in rudder appeture. Had to sit in slip without further trys for 3 weeks due to marina repair, tried again: in reverse gear wife says metal grinding noise,I think prop eating rudder! Pulled it back into slip then did get grinding noise in forwar.this is a27 horse westerbeke diesel replacement for atomic 4, long before my ownership. have been towed & will be pulled again in a few days. same steering problem without engine had just enough steering to keep ariel 121 behind tow boat. Will advise. Would appreciate any comment thus far. Thanks!!