Frozen rudders

[edbush]

1973 TriCabin 36' has frozen rudders.... They will not turn to the right or left. Any suggestions as to how to free them up? Also, is there a better system than the old chain linked to the long rod to the rudder original set up? Also, I am presuming that this is an out of the water repair. All input will be appreciated! Anyone have a diagram of the rudder shaft?

[gjrylands]

It sounds like you have a broken gear in the gearbox or something jamming in the mechanical system. This would lock up the steering. Try disconnecting the tiller arms and see if the rudders turn. If you get movement the problem isn’t with the rudder shafts and the repair can be done in the water.

Try isolating where the problem is. In the bilge below the helm you will find the shaft running to the stern. I think you have a release pin to disconnect the shaft from the sprocket. Pull the pin and check if the steering wheel turns. If it does you will know that the problem is in the gearbox at the other end of the shaft. I am guessing this is where the problem is. I think you will need to replace the broken gearbox.

If when you tried turning the wheel, and it didn't move, look for something jamming the chain or mechanism. With a pipe wrench turn the shaft with the pin out and see if it moves and moves the rudders. If it does the problem is at the helm

Another option would be to covert the steering to hydraulic steering. I think you will find that it is expensive and may be cost prohibitive. I would try to fix the old system and would only convert if finding parts for the old system were imposable to find or were outlandishly expensive.

[guglielmo6160]

ED

your question is a little vague, is each individual rudder jammed, or the entire system, some use cables, from the helm others use a gear drive, chains etc, so maybe something mechanical is jammed, as the last member mentioned,
I doubt that both rudder shafts are seized , unless the boat has been sitting on the hard for a long long time, and even then I .ve never heard of that, sounds like a jammed gear or something like that. What I would do is start disconnecting items to see if anything frees up

[rossjo]

It should be "fixable".

The chain/gear mechanism is simple and reliable when maintained properly.

Hydraulic would be an expensive retrofit, and I have seen many boaters without steering due to hydraulic leaks, so I'm not a big fan.

[jimbo36]

This happened to me last summer while underway on my '74 F36 Tricabin. As it turned out, the mount for the sprocket below the helm came loose (through bolted through the main stringer) the chain was partly off and would not turn. Even though I was without rudder I did not want to force the helm. Good thing I didn't otherwise I would have been looking for parts. I doubt your rudder posts are seized. That would be most unusual. All these parts are sturdy and the system quite simple and problem free if looked after. Good luck.

[edbush]

Many thanks for the info thus far. I "thought" I had disconnected the gear box, etc., to leave access only to the rudders, but now you've all got me second guessing previous work. I will go down this weekend and start at the rudder shafts and work my way back up. The steering wheel turns easily and the chain is turning and connected at the wheel and rod below deck. Something from the chain linkage back has locked up apparently... More later when I get into her. She's been sitting at dock in the water in San Diego for some years. I'm a recently new owner finally getting around to making her operational once again. One good 440 that runs smoothly, the other is disassembled in the engine compartment.