Gudgeons and Pintles

                   
                  This rudder design must have been similar to that on our 16th century shipwreck

rudder hinges/pintles &gudgeons

A "Gudgeon" is a socket-like (i,e, female) fitting that attaches to the hull side of the ship, The "Pintles" or pins of the rudder when inserted into these sockets would create the hinge effect.allowing the rudder to swing in both directions

You can see in the above picture the very top gudgeon was attached to the flat surface of the stern of the ship. The iron strap of the gudgeon runs horizontally and is fastened with spikes to the flat surface.

As you get lower the gudgeons start to straddle the keel and become more wishbone in shape 

Mingo taking measurements of a gudgeon. Notice the arms or straps are perpendicular to the hole or socket of the gudgeon, making this gudgeon probably the top.

I am not sure how many Gudgeons and Pintles would have been used on a ship of this era? I would venture a guess and say no less than five sets . In our three years of excavation we located four gudgeons and two pintles. 

A rudder "pintle"

A "gudgeon" with "pintle"\

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Gudgeon found one meter from top gudgeon
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Iron anomaly chart.
Light blue is sand and darker blue is shallow rocky areas.