Passport 40 emergency steering

[Billy Manana]

Has any Passport 40 ever used the emergency steering unit? I just restored and refreshed the one that came with Wind Witch in 1983. Now, what do I do with it (serious

suggestions please!). 

[Michael Moradzadeh]

I have tested the one on Cayenne.  The metal screw plate over the rudderstock was corrosion-welded shut, so I replaced it with a clear one, which made the "garage" much more pleasant.

On Mon, Apr 13, 2026 at 4:45 PM Billy Manana <bi...@windwitch.com> wrote:

Has any Passport 40 ever used the emergency steering unit? I just restored and refreshed the one that came with Wind Witch in 1983. Now, what do I do with it (serious

suggestions please!). 

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[D Stephen Slack]

I lost my steering cable in Galveston Bay years ago….pulled the plate and popped in the emergency tiller and made it back home. A little awkward with the tiller facing “backwards” (away from the wheel, towards the stern). But, all in all, it worked and saved the day. Would use a drogue in the ocean I think. 

Steve Slack

s/v Susanne B

Hull #127

Sent from AT&T Yahoo Mail for iPhone

On Monday, April 13, 2026, 6:45 PM, Billy Manana <bi...@windwitch.com> wrote:

Has any Passport 40 ever used the emergency steering unit? I just restored and refreshed the one that came with Wind Witch in 1983. Now, what do I do with it (serious

suggestions please!). 

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[Kathleen Seero]

This has my interest an I think I want to do a safety check k to see how it works. I also crawled through I see and over the batteries to change the manual bilge pump. We have speakers that offer access for drills and parts but getting in there to replace the pump was so much easier. Good way to check on the auto pilot too. 

Have a Great Day,
Kathleen Seero
617 694 3212

Please note my new email
Kathlee...@gmail.com

SAG/AFTRA


http://www.bostoncasting.com/Kathleend

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PassportOwners/1095797859.2554254.1776172479513%40mail.yahoo.com.

[psherwood]

Took me a day or two of repeated generous applications of Kroil followed by rounds of firm taps with a hammer to get mine off for the first time. Can't remember if I also went around the circumference of the plate kissing it with a mini butane torch. Removing the plate and relubing the threads with Corrosion Block grease became part of the annual routine. Fortunately I never needed to use the emergency tiller, which I stowed under the quarterberth next to the fuel tank. Maybe my supplications and sacrifices to Neptune at the start of every passage helped forestall that calamity... 

Phil
ex Cynosure

On Mon 4/13/26 17:30, Michael Moradzadeh wrote:

I have tested the one on Cayenne.  The metal screw plate over the rudderstock was corrosion-welded shut, so I replaced it with a clear one, which made the "garage" much more pleasant.

...

[Kyle L]

Our steering chain broke last year while sounding an anchorage and we did rig up the emergency tiller. After the chaos, I realized I could have just used the autopilot to steer:) It was a good lesson though, one that I will only have to learn once.