Macgregor 26x steering limits

[Herschel]

My rudders:

[sailboatmike]

And I still need to figure out what's bending these brackets up .. that is not normal right?

I'm sure it helps and is better to disconnect the engine while under sail but I don't think thats the problem.

Steering In those conditions was doable but it probably took literally 10x the physical effort of any other point of sail.

Maybe not tying down the rudders brings the force upwards, pushing the brackets up...

If I don't tie down the rudders they just ride up toward the surface of the water. I never noticed any increased steering effort. Maybe it just never happened to me at the point of sail you are referencing.

My experience with my old style (1998) rudders is that they absolutely need to be tied down all the way or steering is very poor. Also, in a hard turn with the rudders more parallel to the surface of the water my prop will chew a hunk out of the blade. Go ahead, ask me how I know!

We could compare prop marks on the rudders, the big prop on the 75Hp makes a nasty gouge in them

[Herschel]

We could compare prop marks on the rudders, the big prop on the 75Hp makes a nasty gouge in them

Comforting, in that "misery loves company" sort of way, to know I am not the only one that experienced such a mishap, but, hopefully, our sharing our experiences will prevent many more. Mine happened when trying to back off an unexpected grounding, and I let my rudders "float up" to minimize draft, but did not take the time to pull them all the way up. I made a full turn to back the boat back toward the channel, and "chop"!

[DaveC426913]

Yup. Rudders gotta be cleated off hard.
I can instantly tell if a rudder has started to rise, as the wheel fights me, and steering becomes impossible.

[Goldenist]

Thanks guys.. can't wait to see!

[Goldenist]

As a follow up, my difficulties 100% were coming from not securing the rudders in the down position. Feels like an entirely different boat. One that I have MUCH more faith in! Thanks.

[sailboatmike]

I would be checking your brackets VERY carefully for cracks if they have been bent and straightened, The cast alloy brackets on the early X's are very brittle and prone to breaking at the best of times

[Goldenist]

Thanks mines a 2003!

[Herschel]

I would be checking your brackets VERY carefully for cracks if they have been bent and straightened, The cast alloy brackets on the early X's are very brittle and prone to breaking at the best of times

I have heard this often, but I have the original brackets. Grounded maybe 5 times in 14 years, mostly mud, but one hard sand. Bent one of my brackets; took it to a machine shop and got it straightened, and we are still good.

[JotaErre]

I think you should reduce your sails (furl 1/3 or 1/2 of the genoa and reduce the mainsail too)... probably you'll find the boat much easier to steer.