Trojan Boat Forum

Hey now, I hope you are all well and enjoyed a good summer season, as I did. So any how I was never really sure how my rudder got bent but I did get it out, per all of your help. Had it strraightend by bossler and sweeny (excellent people in this field. put it all back together nicely, no hassels. You guessed it and then a few weeks into my boating, it did it again. same rudder(starbord) same bend. I then asked the B & S guys could this happen from the wrong size props or from another force the boat puts out and they said absolutly, not. I must have hit something.
the problem is my props are still perfect no dents, scraches ect. so if i hit something, the same way again, why are my props not getting messed up ?

Now here is something that did happen to me twice this past summer. While trying to see what she could do (speed wise) I got very quickly to about 25 to 28 miles an hour in very calm water, when all of a sudden it was like i lost control of the boat ant it sort of reared up heading very quickly going bow, starboard. I t was like the whole port of the boat tried to lift out of the water while turnig that way, with out me turning it. I was able to get it back incontroll both times, but pulling throttels all the way back, but with everyone and everything thrown around, down below.

The first time this happened, I went into the water a week later to find the bent rudder. The second time this happened I also found the bent rudder about two weeks later. I cant help but think this is related to my bent rudder problems but the experts are telling me no way, I must be hitting something. so what do you guys think.

By the way I will be straightening out the rudder again, next season. for the meantime I have on land, awaiting the spring.

one last thing any one know anything about the flags. is it still on.

thanks Gary "GA"

You must have hit something again. Large Whale or Loch Ness monster.

I agree

I bent mine doing a hard port turn at around 30, when I first got my F-36 and used to fly it like a huey. The turn was to avoid a very large floating log which I missed, so I know it wasnt caused by collision. I was told at that point if you lay into a hard turn at speed you can bend them. Im not sure if its true or not because ive never laid into it that tight again.

Thanks so much for telling me about your experience. i was on both ocations seeing how fast she could go and ended up rearing up the bow and going very hard to port, so much so, that it could have been much more consequences then just a bent ruddar. I wont be going that hard on her any more and I will be it doesnt bend or get bent agin. I will see next summer. thanks for the validation Gary ga

Been there and I am there again the bronze rudder shafts bend easy so I may be wong about haveing to hit something after all . I think I will go with stanless shaft on the rudder .

So just what are the symptoms of a bent rudder??? Hope I never need to know, just curious.......John

Actually, I dont know the symtons. Both times I found out as i was swiming and decided to put a mask on and go under her for a look all around. Im not even sure if I know what it feels like to cruise around with unbent ruddars. This summer I will pay much more attention to it after I fix it again. It was easy to get out while shes on my big trailor and then it only cost about 40 dollars for bossler and sweezey to bend back to shape (press back). again thanks for the input you gave me.
gary ga

Why dont you give John at Marine Tech a call if anybody knows he would 717 684 4145