Rudder Stop Question

[william.haas]

Hey folks. My Ericson has rudder stops installed on the Edson steering quadrant (https://edsonmarine.com/2-vertical-rudder-stop/#:~:text=Description,the swing of the Quadrant.) that "bump" up against L bracket aluminum stock installed underneath the cockpit floor on either side of the pedestal. My stops actually slide/pass underneath the brackets and the brackets are pretty chewed up. The system is clearly not functioning as it should. The questions for you all - (1) have you experienced this before? (2) were the brackets poorly sized and would a slightly longer (vertically) replacement solve the issue? (3) Is is possible the entire quadrant slide down 1/4 inch over the years allowing this situation to develop? Thanks to all in advance.

 

[Shawn Brooks]

>> were the brackets poorly sized and would a slightly longer (vertically) replacement solve the issue?

Yes.

>> Is is possible the entire quadrant slide down 1/4 inch over the years allowing this situation to develop? Thanks to all in advance.

Not unless something is obviously wrong with the rudder and related mechanisms. Open the emergency tiller port in the cockpit and see that the top of the rudder post sits pretty close to flush with the top of the bearing.

I think the brackets were just not the right size--simple as that. I manufactured new correctly sized brackets.

 

[Christian Williams]

My 32-3 had such L-brackets, which when they got whacked were difficult to tighten and make secure again.



There is a simple solution, if it'll work on your boat. The bumper just needs something to hit. This was, or is, Loren's O34 (or so my caption says).

 

[Loren Beach]

Ah Yup. That's my boat...

 

[william.haas]

Thank you gentlemen. Appreciated as always.