To enjoy your sailing trips much more, one of the keys is to know the sea and the boat well. In other articles we will talk about navigation or safety on the high seas, but this article is going to be dedicated to one of the most important parts of the sailboat, the rudder.
In the same way that it happens to a car with the steering wheel, it is impossible to understand any boat without the steering wheel. Although you may think that the rudder is something simple, the truth is that it is not.
This is not only because its use is necessary in a large number of maneuvers of the sailboat, but also because it is made up of many parts that are essential for it to carry out all these functions.
What is a ship's rudder
A ship’s rudder is a critical element in controlling the direction and course of the boat. Thanks to the rudder, the sailboat can maintain the desired course guiding the boat through the waves and seas.
It is a metal or wooden blade that is placed at the stern. The rudder rotates around an axis or pivot, thus allowing the steering of the boat. Basically, if we didn’t have a rudder or it was broken, it would be difficult for us to take control of the boat.
How a ship's rudder works
The rudder of a boat is essential to carry out any maneuver on the boat. The rudder has a simple operation, but it has been perfected over the years. This evolution of the rudder has allowed modern vessels to be much easier to steer compared to older ones.
The easiest way to know how a rudder works is to imagine it as a large oar submerged in water. When the rudder is turned, the flow of water passing through the back of the boat is being diverted, creating a force that pushes the boat to one side or the other.
To understand it better, if we turn the rudder to the left, which would be a turn to port, the widest part of the rudder, which is the blade, would be deflected to the right. The water hitting that part of the blade exerts a force to the left on the boat, so the back of the boat ends up turning to the left.
Rudder parts
The rudder is made up of several fundamental parts. Each has its own function within the rudder structure.
Shovel
The racket can be made of wood or metal. This is the part of the rudder that is submerged in the water and rotates around an axis or pivot. By moving the paddle we will divert the flow of water as we wish.
Axis
The rudder shaft is also known as the wick. This is the point of the rudder where the tiller is connected to control the direction of the rudder. The shaft goes through the hull of the ship through a hole that is known as a lime tree.
Cane and lime
The tiller is the lever that the helmsman, the one in charge of carrying the rudder, uses to turn the rudder. This tiller is connected to the rudder shaft and is controlled from the boat’s wheelhouse as if it were a steering wheel.
As we have seen before, the file is the hole in the hull through which the rudder shaft passes.
Saffron
Saffron is the faces of the rudder blade. These faces are the ones that interact with the flow of water as we have pointed out before and that allow the rudder to work.
Rudder Wheel
The rudder wheel is the organ of the steering system that is located in the cockpit of any vessel. When this wheel is turned to one side or the other, the movement is transmitted to the rudder blade, thus changing the direction of the boat.
Guardian
The guard consists of a series of sprockets that are located at the base of the rudder wheel. This guard is designed to transmit the movement that goes from the wheel to the rudder axis, making the blade move in the desired direction.
Rudder Types and Classification
There are many different types of rudders that can vary depending on the size of the boat or its characteristics. Here are some of the most common.
The sword rudder is one of the most popular that can be found on both small boats and sailboats. This rudder is characterized by making use of a long, narrow blade that dips into the water and connects to the rudder shaft.
The stern rudder is common in somewhat larger boats. This rudder is usually located at the rear of the boat and has a special design with which it achieves greater control and maneuverability in open water.
Finally, side rudders are often used on barges and also on some cargo boats. As the name suggests, these rudders are mounted on the sides of the ship and their function is to steer the boat when it enters straight spaces or arrives at a port.
On the other hand, rudders can be classified in different ways. One of the ways to classify them is depending on their structure. This is because there can be single and double plate rudders and also those with curved shapes to take better advantage of hydrodynamics.
They can also be sorted by mounting. There are supported rudders, those that have an additional lower support, semi-suspended rudders, which have the support in the middle of the blade and hanging rudders, which only have the upper support.
Finally, also because of its distribution. In this case we can find rudders that are not compensated, semi-compensated or compensated depending on the blade aft, bow or blade with more than 20% at the bow.
Rudder maintenance
Carrying out rudder maintenance is essential for the safety of the boat. A broken rudder can compromise the ability to maneuver the boat, leading to an increased risk of an accident.
Being in continuous contact with water, the rudder wears out very easily. Beyond contact with water, the rudder is also constantly under a lot of stress. It should also be remembered that the metallic materials of which the rudder consists are susceptible to corrosion, especially when it comes to a marine environment.
The best way to keep a rudder in good condition is through preventative maintenance. This involves carrying out a visual inspection to look at the condition of the paint or look for cracks or dents.
It is also important that the rudder is well lubricated in its moving parts, for example in the hinges. Also inspect the rudder seals and seals for any leaks or wear and check the steering mechanism to see the condition of the cables and other mechanisms that compose it.
The frequency with which these inspections are carried out will vary depending on several factors, for example, the intensive use of the rudder or the type of vessel in question. As a general rule, it is important to carry out general maintenance at least once a month and a thorough maintenance every 6 months.
If you are going to do a particularly tough sailing trip, for example, an Antarctic expedition, it is always important to make sure that the rudder is in the best condition before leaving.
