3 Comments
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Pete's avatar

Excellent story. Have heard more than one rudder/prop damage tale from vessels big and small hitting deadheads at night. Look forward to the conclusion of your story!

Mark Pingel's avatar

6x40 feet is ENORMOUS! Glad you survived!

Eric Russell's avatar

You got off lucky. The outboard engine gave you another option for steering. Did you have a safety line attached as a backup to keep it attached to the boat?

Good thing you didn't have to do it with the inboard.

You probably would have been able to coarse steer with a drogue and sail trim, as well as using yourself as live ballast but the engine was certainly better.

Considering where you sail, would it make sense to create a fairing from the keel to the area neat the rudder? Even though it would move the Center of lateral resistance aft, it might save the next rudder.