How Robust are the MacGregor Rudders?

[zamber]

How robust are the MacGregor rudders? From a glance they do not seem they are sturdy.

[kmclemore]

I have heard of folks breaking them, and certainly Blue Water and other folks have sold replacements, but in general they are pretty sturdy. Mine are the originals and have lasted just fine.

[Chinook]

A couple of years ago, while cruising the Great Loop, we were headed north on the Intracoastal Waterway, and with both rudders down and cleated off, I managed to hit bottom, hard, with the rudders. Rudders and rudder brackets survived the collision just fine, however, I managed to break both rudder lines, very near where the stopper knot attaches to the rudders. Granted, these were the original lines, about 13 years old at the time, but still, reflecting well on the strength of the rudders. The lines were just long enough to reconnect to the rudders with new stopper knots. I replaced the lines next chance I had. Maybe if the lines were brand new, my rudders would have broken. No way to know. I have heard of problems with the rudder brackets in early year models of the X, however, after Roger switched to stainless brackets, that problem was resolved.

[geminiI-Can]

Depends on who you ask. I would say the X seems to have pretty sturdy rudders and mounts. I have heard of them breaking. The M is a totally different story. I believe the rudder mounts on the M are the weakest part of the boat. Mine have spread apart allowing the rudder to wobble a fair bit. Think rudders not pointing in the same direction. Not very efficient. I have bent them back together but they soon spread apart again. Apparently some models have a heavier construction but mine are the weak ones. Presently saving up for the BWY upgrade to a thicker steel construction.

[dlandersson]

You really need to be more specific.

I have a 97X. My old style rudders (and I have an extra set from ebay - just in case) - seem to be holding up fine after 10 years and after having had to repair/weld the rudder brackets (of which I also have an extra set re: ebay).

How robust are the MacGregor rudders? From a glance they do not seem they are sturdy.

[Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL]

I don't cleat off the rudder hold-down lines. I used to just wrap the lines around the cleat in a circle, instead of the figure 8, and if they hit something they float up. Now I just tighten the pivot bolts so that they stay down, and kick up if I hit something. Then I just pull them down again.

[K9Kampers]

How robust?...

Not nearly enough to survive several attempts at hauling out in the locked down position! Jus sayin'!

[C Buchs]

I was trying to find a picture, but couldn't. My rudder lines have two fairleads on the transom for the rudder lines, but only the top one is used. It was like this when I purchased the boat and I wondered why, until I realized that the rudder can kick up when I run them into stuff. Been working great for the 4 years I've owned the boat.

Jeff

[dlandersson]

How robust?...

Not nearly enough to survive several attempts at hauling out in the locked down position! Jus sayin'!

[Herschel]

I have the original 26X brackets and rudders on my 1998X. I have run aground about four times over the 16 plus years I have had her. I did recover the boat once with the rudders still in the down position. The groundings did not cause any damage. The very short distance I drove up the ramp with the rudders in the down position before I discovered my error did grind a couple of inches off the tips of the rudders and bent slightly one of the rudder mounts. I was able to take the mount to a metal fabricator's shop and have it bent back to the correct position. I repaired the rudders with glass cloth and epoxy myself. Aesthetically, I have always favored the old rudders that stow in the vertical position, so I am happy with my rudders. They are 22 years old and still work great.

[dlandersson]

Ditto

I have the original 26X brackets and rudders on my 1998X. I have run aground about four times over the 16 plus years I have had her. I did recover the boat once with the rudders still in the down position. The groundings did not cause any damage. The very short distance I drove up the ramp with the rudders in the down position before I discovered my error did grind a couple of inches off the tips of the rudders and bent slightly one of the rudder mounts. I was able to take the mount to a metal fabricator's shop and have it bent back to the correct position. I repaired the rudders with glass cloth and epoxy myself. Aesthetically, I have always favored the old rudders that stow in the vertical position, so I am happy with my rudders. They are 22 years old and still work great.