Amazing what can be achieved with a big hammer!

We have been plagued with a tiller wobble ever since the new slightly larger prop was fitted. Having arranged with Paul Barber boat builder at Sheetstores basin to be taken out of water and the shaft and rudder dropped out, we left Sandiacre to travel the 3 miles to the basin. First though we had to leave our mooring. Being boxed in by Electra on our outside and Icing and Crested Lark behind it wasn't going to be easy, but many hands make light work so they say and with Dennis, Margaret, Carol, and Mick guiding us out, it made my our task much easier.

It was sods law that after a lovely weekend the weather turned nasty and so the journey down was a bit damp. Luckily the rain eased while we were at Paul's and before we knew it the boat was high and dry with me left alone at the back. Ian had already jumped off at the bow and to prove it was me that did all the maneuvering I used the photos that Viviee took. Hope you don't mind Viviee. It's not often I get to have a picture of myself at the tiller (:

 photo by Viviee

Viviee photo

and again. Don't I look pleased

Ian inspecting FP's anodes.

The rudder was a right pain to get off. It took brute force by lifting with a fork truck. Then the ramsneck heated to make the metal expand and hitting with the hammer to remove!

Careful of the rope

Give it a hard whack!

Did the job nicely.

Once the rudder was removed Paul took one look and said that, not only was the shaft bent at the top of the rudder, but also bent halfway down where the blade had been welded on. The only way that could have been done is if the shaft was bent before the rudder was attached but surly no self respecting boat builder would attach a bent shaft to a flat blade! Or would they?  We told him about the time Ian (and I stress Ian) hit the concrete at Sandiacre really really hard when reversing. That accounted for the top bend but not the middle. Paul then looked at the rudder itself and found it to be bent in a V shape from the bottom to the middle.  He told us that this was almost impossible to do whilst boating and that his  conclusion was that the rudder damaged occurred sometime during transportation when FP was new.With a smaller prop this wasn't noticeable but a larger prop moved more water against the rudder so any imbalance would be amplified

Paul confirming the bent rudder and shaft.

Sorting the shaft out first

Now for the rudder. Yep that hammer will do the job.

Perfect. Job well done.

After loads of measuring, heating, and hitting with a sledge hammer, the rudder was about as straight as Paul could get it. Paul was then happy enough for us to go try it out . So back in the water for a trial run and I'm very pleased to report that the wobble has almost gone. Still get the occasional shake but now we no longer feel our teeth are being shaken loose! Thanks Paul. Two very relieved and thankful boaters.