I partially disassembled Annie' rudder/ tiller assembly to varnish the tiller and inspect. It is a somewhat different beast when compared to other small boat equipment. In most Drascombe boats- Luggers, Longboats, Coasters- the rudder slides down through a thin well and out the bottom. The configuration affords the mizzen mast and the outboard an amidships position. It does take getting used to.
I made a small, teak, slotted wedge to slip under the pivot section of the rudder when raised in shallow water. The heavy rod portion is covered in split PVC pipe and a thick sleeve bushing keeps the bronze rudder head from grinding in to the deck plate.
It all went back together and its off to the next pre-season task...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVdFhKRahUb47wS94Oe_VFCalFStgqhHdLty9VRiti8eVV1WPJyLoINPAd9I38KyurIN_DtM0KV7zDExIhqe2pW3vIrbG7spLiVuRrTLHuVNMqc1jF2ogGnv_Ewg9NCRb_dkRb5-G0aM/s1600/P1010023.JPG) |
stainless steel 'knock-up' rudder |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUtC7iD4-Ca1L2Iglg2TN8luHM8vrB8yZT9yRhwqz01PWtI29ndWFV73cBNL5PSe1Kpdiq6mmRpGGuRhRtW8AiiGprt4nT2KjP3nRm-TdbtRuytuVP3Ivwq3qyDCFpEuSaq1-K9m2kgI/s1600/P1010024.JPG) |
bronze rudder head assembly that accepts the tiller |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwfkYjPYAvdcd3kdG10lI3T5mBkOtPiRSBu3CW6g_xaMWwf-94KwIJ6oAp1Fp-upR_2n7Nl4rR_E0BEuModRm4mAbZ_nZjQDNn0IsaNcfw9SugKA5ecdLiWoIVcDSR0iKc9X9ACzaKJo/s1600/IMG_2960.JPG) |
rudder in raised position |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05iE3bVIzJ8h74PlYE7AUDQwnqym9KjBs-A4fTIND_j_mSPdy-VE7SOVizIRJFvYmehEYRPVVh9VBFeYWfcDiYRZsc_hvRqLy8F3pDql6pdO24H0tD_BsPYyRwQF5ugGzRllcOpzpXcs/s1600/IMG_0045.JPG) |
'self-steering' |