Michael Keyworth has tested methods for steering without a rudder and has published his results in this white paper. It is well worth reading.

We lost steering when a gear box on our Bowman 57 seized mid-Atlantic. We reduced sail and I stayed on deck adjusting sail trim and essentially steering our ketch with the sails while Alex took apart the complex rod steering system. I also established contact with the vessels in our SSB net and two boats behind us diverted to our position to assist if necessary. Fortunately, Aleria sailed herself beautifully.

Eventually, after many hours of coaxing, the gear loosened to work well enough to reach Barbados. Although we did suffer a second steering failure en route -- and totally different problem which was probably caused by the first problem but was much easier to fix, we had to continue on to Grenada as there was no one who could help us fix it properly in Barbados. We prayed a lot on that trip.

We thought of several alternatives while we were at it and had suggestions from the SSB net as well. Virtually all of the alternatives would have required cutting the steering shaft, which we thought was a rather drastic matter but would have done it if we couldn 't work out a viable alternative. We do have an emergency tiller but it involves standing up through an open hatch in the aft cabin coach roof to steer, which is not a great ocean crossing option. The Monitor self-steering has a backup rudder option so that was another thing we could try. Fortunately, soaking the gear box in Liquid Wrench and a lot of "manual persuasion" did the trick.

Michael Keyworth 's solution seems very elegant and a very good use for a drogue.
Every boat is different so each solution is likely to be different. Has anyone else had the experience of rudder failure? What did you do?

Vice Commodore, OCC 

Hi all,
First, it should be distinguished whether we are talking about being without a rudder or a failure in the steering mechanism: the control of the rudder. They present quite different challenges. The initial report was not about a loss of a rudder, but rather a breakdown in controlling the still intact and functional rudder. I would venture to say that the majority of actual rudder losses at sea result in the loss of the vessel. Loss of control of a functional rudder can usually be repaired or jury rigged.
This article is a good argument for those below deck autopilots that are independent of the primary steering apparatus. (Most wind vane designs depend on elements of, if not the whole, steering system.) As long as the rudder shaft is in place and the rudder is attached to the shaft, our autopilot (an Alpha 3000) will steer our boat independent of the quadrant, cables, wheel etc. It should be a primary consideration when purchasing a below decks autopilot. Most may do so as I have only experience with the Alpha.
My best, Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy