Hit log--Bent rudder or steering cable issue

[SkiBee]

I am hoping the experts on this forum might have some insight or experience with a bent rudder. We hit a floating log at night after the fireworks in DC and the boat is very hard to steer now. There is not a whole lot of turning authority when I put it in gear. The steering wheel is very difficult to turn as well. It feels like the steering cable is binding, but I am not sure how that would happen from hitting a log. Upon inspection once I got it on the trailer, it looks like the rudder is bent. Two pictures are attached. They aren't great shots, but it looks bent to me.

I have a family reunion in NY in seven days and I am expected to pull the 40 or so attendees that entire week. I dropped off the boat at the nearest Nautique dealership, which is two hours away, last night. They are going to do their best to help me and get it done this week. We will see. So, to summarize my questions:

1) Has anyone heard of this happening before or been unfortunate enough to have it happen to them?
2) If it needs a new rudder, does anyone know the fastest way to get one? The Nautique dealership says it has to come from the Nautique factory, so it looks like overnighting it is the only option as they do not open until Monday.
3) Is there a business that can straighten the rudder back out, but do it in a day?

The boat is a 1999 Ski Nautique Open Bow.

Thank you in advance. I read this forum all the time, but have not had to ask for help. I have to now.

James

[Pjoachim]

What is weird is your prop looks totally fine. But your rudder definitely looks bent. I wish you nothing but luck n getting it fixed fast for your family vacation.

[SkiBee]

I agree. No vibration either. I find it hard to believe that the prop, shaft, and fins made it through untouched, but from what I can tell, they did.

[shag]

Is it possible that you didn't hit a log, and had a catastrophic failure of the rudder port (which isn't likely) but I've seen weirder stuff happen. For the rudder to be bent in that position but no prop damage is very strange. Definitely bears inspection and possible replacement by a pro. Hopefully nothing wrong but the strut. Probably not cheap anyway you look at it.

[ski4evr]

Maybe you will be lucky and only damaged the bearing at the top of the rudder. Haven't had one apart, but it sure looks like a replaceable bearing at the top of the rudder.

[DanielC]

I have seen and heard of a few rudders torn completely off. It also is possible to have damage to the fiberglass around the rudder port, and to have damage to the metal rudder port itself.

Unless you know what to look for, it is a good thing that you took your boat to the Correct Craft dealer. Rudder issues are too important to risk having a complete failure while under way.

I would not attempt to have the rudder straightened, unless it was very minor damage on the leading edge, down low, completely away from the rudder shaft. When metals are bent, they are weakened. Even more so when they are bent back. This is more of a problem with thick cross sections, than it is with relatively thin propeller blades.

[jbrothers513]

I have a '84 2001 that I hit a stump - destroyed the prop and bent the rudder. Tried to straighten the rudder with no success. Was able to get a new rudder from White Lake Marine. They had a new rudder in stock.

[charlesml3]

Get under the boat and look up at where the rudder enters the stuffing box. That's the square, brass fitting that the rudder shaft enters. Most likely you'll see some new semi-circle scratches on this plate. These scratches are coming from the rudder turning and contacting the plate because it's bent back a degree or two.

If this is the case, you're going to need to replace it. It's a simple process. Take the old one out and then push some paper towels through the stuffing box to clean the old grease out. Grease the new one and put it in.

Before you connect the steering cable back, give the steering wheel a full turn stop-to-stop. How does it feel? If that feels stiff then you need a new cable, but that's just from age, not because you hit a log. On a '99 you're certainly due for a new cable.

-Charles