[C38] The loss of Hull #280

[Charles Finn]

Wow.....  A structural failure within the rudder is just about 
impossible to predict or solve!
If Wings is ever recovered, it would be interesting to take that rudder 
apart!
But for C38ers,  maybe the lesson is we need to be especially cognizant 
of our rudders!   Mighty Quinn is on her second rudder after the first 
turned to mush from a lightning strike which besides frying electronics, 
went through the wheel and rudder. The strike was during a Chicago Mac 
Race in Lake Michigan, which also knocked her completely over.   This 
happened in the same place the freak storm knocked down Wing Nuts and 
two people died.
Fellow Captains:  Check Your Rudders!

Chuck Finn
Commodore
Mighty Quinn  #114

On 12/13/2013 11:13 AM, Craig Sailor6147 wrote:
> Chuck,   The rudder itself appeared to be OK. The steering quadrant 
> was OK. I am guessing that the welds that attach the rudder to the 
> shaft broke and the rudder shaft was just turning inside the rudder. 
> In the big mixed seas, we were getting tossed like a ping pong ball in 
> a washing machine....Mama is not thrilled about buying another 
> boat....We're looking at diesel motorhomes now.....
>
> Craig
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Date: Fri, 13 Dec 2013 10:15:36 -0500
> From: charles at finn.ws
> To: listserve at catalina38.org
> Subject: Re: [C38] The loss of Hull #280
>
> Craig,
> Terrible News!
> With all the planning and work you and your wife did on her!
> I am so happy you folks are ok!
> What went regarding "steerage?"  Maybe this is something all of us 
> should attend to?
> This is the second boat of folks I know that had to abandon in this 
> area....   The last group got picked up by a freighter and ended up in 
> Germany! Their boat was sighted several times adrift of a year.
> Sometimes this area is too quiet and you end up motoring and sometimes 
> it is just hell day after day.  Even with the best forecasting, they 
> just cannot get a reliable picture of where you were!
> All the best to you and here is hoping for a quick and successful 
> recovery!
>
> Chuck Finn
> Commodore
> Mighty Quinn  #114
> Great Lakes
>
>
> On 12/12/2013 10:56 PM, Craig Sailor6147 wrote:
>
>     I'm sorry to report that we lost "Wings" in weather 400 km west of
>     Bermuda on our way to the BVI's. We lost steerage and after
>     bouncing in 20-30ft seas for 3 days, the Coast Guard picked us up
>     and flew us back to Hampton Va. The boat was abandoned and if it
>     didn't sink, it will either be salvaged or destroyed by the navy.
>     It was a great boat and I'll miss her after 15 years of sailing
>     her through The Great Lakes, East Coast, The Keys and The Bahamas.
>
>     Craig Steinkraus
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>     >
>     >
>     >
>     >
>     >
>     >
>     > _______________________________________________
>     > Listserve mailing list
>     > Listserve at catalina38.org <mailto:Listserve at catalina38.org>
>     > http://catalina38.org/mailman/listinfo/listserve_catalina38.org
>     >
>
>     _______________________________________________ Listserve mailing
>     list Listserve at catalina38.org <mailto:Listserve at catalina38.org>
>     http://catalina38.org/mailman/listinfo/listserve_catalina38.org
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________ Listserve mailing list 
> Listserve at catalina38.org 
> http://catalina38.org/mailman/listinfo/listserve_catalina38.org
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Listserve mailing list
> Listserve at catalina38.org
> http://catalina38.org/mailman/listinfo/listserve_catalina38.org

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://catalina38.org/pipermail/listserve_catalina38.org/attachments/20131213/23044920/attachment-0001.htm>