Before reading on, please take a moment to fill out our weekly survey so we can share your thoughts and experiences with the Cruising Compass family. Thanks.
Do you have an in-boom furling mainsail system on your boat?
Many thanks to all readers who took the time to fill out last week’s survey on emergency steering in the case of serious rudder failure or damage (ie. Orcas). Of those who answered, 27% say they would trail a drogue from amidships cleats, 21% would use the rudder on their windvane, 19% have no plan for steering without a rudder, 19% would trail warps from the stern, 11% would jury rig the spinnaker pole, and 2% would use an emergency spare rudder.
Reader comments include: catamaran owners would either use an undamaged rudder or use their twin engines to steer, several indicated that trailing a drogue or bucket is the best plan while several said adjusting the sails and tying off the tiller or wheel will steer their boats. And, several readers noted that there are no Orcas in the Grate Lakes!
