The SOS Rudder was designed to meet several conflicting demands:
- It had to be small enough to store easily
- It had to be able to be installed by one person, at sea
- It had to be large enough to steer a 50-60 ft LOA boat
- And, it had to be reasonably priced.
We met these parameters by using existing components already proven for strength in our other products - the mounting brackets and tubes from the Monitor windvane, the rudder from the Monitor MRUD emergency steering system, and the castings from our Auto-helm windvane - all made of 316L stainless steel. We are the first company to offer a commercially available emergency steering system at a reasonable price.
When you receive an SOS Rudder from Scanmar International, you do not get a mass-produced, "figure-out-how-it-fits-on-my-boat" product. Each SOS Rudder is custom-designed to fit a particular boat, using dimensions supplied by the owner. If we have a mounting drawing for your boat, you can be assured that the SOS Rudder will fit. If we do not, we will send you a custom worksheet showing exactly which dimensions we need to design a mount. We will work closely with you to be sure the SOS Rudder will fit.
There are two rudder sizes available - we will suggest the correct one for your boat.**STANDARD SIZE NO LONGER AVAILABLE**
The tiller will be designed to fit your particular needs - it can run straight forward, in the traditional manner, or it can cant off to port or starboard to clear a radar mast or backstay, then bend back to parallel boat centerline. Eyebolts are fitted at the forward end to allow setting up steering tackle.