Rudder rotates into prop

[Robscape]

My neighbor has an 02 Wakesetter LSV and just had his rudder rotate clear around into the prop. Obviously this is not a regular Malibu feature, what has happened to cause this, and how can it be corrected so it never happens again? Thanx.

PS-This happened while maneuvering the boat back to put in on the trailer.

[SacRiverRat]

Did you change something? It should be limited by the travel within the rack (where it attaches to the helm)

Could the rudder arm have come loose on the rudder (it is keyed, so unlikely)

[Robscape]

Rudder was changed out by dealer for a newer one.

[RTS]

Did said dealer happen to tighten the nuts correctly on said newer rudder? Sounds like your buddy needs to give them a call. And you are exactly right, rudder/prop contact is not a regular Malibu feature.

I bet that was a horrible sound...

Edited June 29, 2005 by rts

[Jimmy Buffett]

Seems like this happened to another poster before...some adjustments should correct it.

[mrothwell]

Did you change something?  It should be limited by the travel within the rack (where it attaches to the helm)

Could the rudder arm have come loose on the rudder (it is keyed, so unlikely)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

the key came out of the rudder on my 97 Echelon, I found it laying in the hull when I was greasing the rudder shaft, I have no idea how long it was out but the rudder had shifted a small amount. This sounds like the key may have never been put back in when the new rudder was installed.

[martho]

Before I make my comments, I want to make sure I understand.

The rudder is able to be rotated freely without control by the steering wheel/cable?

Or the prop made contact with the rudder and the rudder still functions normally?

[jklein]

I bet the prop is damaged at a minimum. If I were the owner, I would diagnose the problem, and determine if the installation of the new rudder by the dealer was done incorrectly. If so, the dealer needs to step up and take care of any of the damage IMO.

[SacRiverRat]

on a '02, there shouldn't be any way for the rudder to contact the prop if it is properly installed

The rudder movement it limited by the rack at the helm.

[Robscape]

You're right the sound is definitely scary and the feedback through the steering wheel is also unnerving. When it happens you cannot turn the wheel until you drop the power to throttle. Funny thing is, if the boat is sitting on the trailer and you rotate the wheel it all seems to work perfectly to either side, and does not go into the prop. Then when in the water under certain conditions it goes past the normal turn radius and rotates around into the prop. Prop damage is not too bad, little chings on each blade, but unnecessary hassle and waste of time for something that should not happen.

[martho]

Ok.

I had a buddy's boat where it was put it in hard reverse and sucked the rudder forward just enough to rub the prop. The wheel was turned all the way when he jammed it in reverse for a safety reason.

Edited June 29, 2005 by martho

[Robscape]

Martho, I think you've hit it on the head. That is the condition it would normally happen under. Rudder hard to one side and a quick blip of the throttle for correction and whamo! Then the steering wheel feels like one of those force feedback wheels you hook up to a computer when you hit something in a racing game!

First time it happened we thought we'd hit a rock or something, but there was nothing to hit! Finally we figured out it was the prop/rudder connection.

[RTS]

Unless and until you get the problem fixed, keep a good grip on the steering wheel when you're in reverse. Might as well keep the rudder in a more neutral position, too, because trying to steer an inboard in reverse is like trying to shove a wet noodle up a wildcats butt...

[JohnDoe]

because trying to steer an inboard in reverse is like trying to shove a wet noodle up a wildcats butt...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[obski]

Seems like this happened to another poster before...some adjustments should correct it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This happened to me when I first got my used boat last year. I took out the prop with the rudder the very first day I took the boat out. I had the rudder turned, put the boat in reverse and sucked the rudder around right into the prop. After that i was careful so that it didn't happen again and then later, after some more problems, found out that the rudder they had put on the boat was not the right one for a v-drive. I have not had further problems with the rudder after it was replaced with the correct one.

They may well have not put the correct rudder on your boat. It should not be able to turn into the prop.

[jklein]

That is the condition it would normally happen under. Rudder hard to one side and a quick blip of the throttle for correction and whamo!

That just doesn't sound right to me. The design should not allow for that much flex or that little variance from the rudder to the prop to allow this issue to occur if the unit is properly installed and adjusted.

I think it's either an installation error, or design flaw IMO.