Driving a Vagabond

Posted By: Jim Bailey
Date: 3/9/07 8:12p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Vagabond motoring characteristics (pic) (Rod M. WWP-19 "Spring", Nimble Vagabond "Loligo" S. Gulf Isl)

Before I bought the Nimble 20 that I am converting into a pilothouse trawler, I discussed the idea with a friend who is not only an experienced blue-water sailor, but who has a very successful sailboat/yacht maintenance business, and when I asked him if I could get away with taking the rudder off the 20 and just using the motor for steering his comment was, "Not no, but hell no." He went on to tell me that a boat the size and shape of the 20, which has the same hull as the Vagabond, needs a big rudder. He did say that steering the 20 with just the motor would work fine just so long as I confined my travels to narrow rivers with high banks, small lakes, and tree shaded back-waters, but I would have my hands full if I ever ventured out into open water on a windy day. I don't have any suggestions on how to do it, but you just might have to hang a rudder of the Vagabond's stern.. Hold on, I do have a suggestion, too. Check with Ray Henry, Nimble Kodiak, "Seaweed." He designed a boomkin for his boat that is truly a work of art, and the modifications he made to his tiller are equally as impressive; therefore, it is my humble opinion that if anyone can advise you on adding a rudder, if in fact you have to resort to such a drastic, and expensive measure, Ray Henry is the anyone that I would ask. Jim Bailey - Mobile.