Extending a Rudder tube

[sailaboutvic]

Following from my thread on the Moody42 seals .
After replacing the new bush with slightly over size O rings , I still getting a smear working it way through i.e. If I run my finger on it it becomes damp .
My concern is , once on the move the stern will be digging it self in and the seals are going to be under move pressure the chances are the slight smear will become a drip .
Off cause the really problem is that the top of the rudder tube sits just under the water level .

First question ? Am I correct in my thinking or will the water smear just stay a smear ?

Second part .
I have the option of rising the cables assembly 18 mm ( placing ply wood under it , in which case it mean I can then rise the steering quadrant up by 18mm to sit just level with the bottom of the key-wave ,
in turn I could then glass an 18mm ring on top of the rudder tube and put in another lip seal which also mean the top will now be about 15 mm above water level plus it will have the extra protection of another seal .

Question , is this a lot of work just to stop a small drip ?
And any suggestion on the type of materials to use , ( plastic , S/S , bronze)
Is GRP it best to keep it in place , remembering it only there to hold another seal in or just sikaflex it in place .

Before anyone suggest a rubber grommet , garter, that's not possible as the top of the tube has legs glassed in to help to support it .

 

[RichardS]

Vic ...... if you can't simply push a short length of plastic tube over the top of the stern tube (a cut-down round plastic shampoo bottle or something, with a touch of sealant if necessary) because of the legs, how about a slightly smaller diameter plastic bottle pushed down inside the stern tube and standing proud out of the top with a fillet of sealant around the top of the tube on the joint between the two?

Richard

 

[knuterikt]

You can Read about solutions here http://www.jefa.com/rudder.htm
http://www.jefa.com/products/sealing/sealing.htm
we have installed a gaiter on our rudder tube.

 

[Yngmar]

You can Read about solutions here http://www.jefa.com/rudder.htm
http://www.jefa.com/products/sealing/sealing.htm
we have installed a gaiter on our rudder tube.

+1 - this is the quick & easy fix. The Jefa gaiter can even be ordered open, with a small tube of matching neoprene glue, so you can install it without dropping the rudder.

But yes, normally the rudder tube should end well above the waterline. Mine does and then has a rubber hose extending it further upward, with a lip seal terminating it at the top - both ends clamped with hose clamps. The Jefa gaiter is simpler though!

 

[sailaboutvic]

You can Read about solutions here http://www.jefa.com/rudder.htm
http://www.jefa.com/products/sealing/sealing.htm
we have installed a gaiter on our rudder tube.

Thanks for this solution, but has I said , it's not possible to use a gaiter , other wise that would had be the easier option .

 

[MoodySabre]

If the water line is going to be only 15mm below the new seal then surely it will be back below the waterline when you are underway particularly when motoring.

Sorry I don't have an answer. I had to replace the O rings in the rudder bearing on my Moody 31. A poor design IMO.

 

[sailaboutvic]

If the water line is going to be only 15mm below the new seal then surely it will be back below the waterline when you are underway particularly when motoring.

Sorry I don't have an answer. I had to replace the O rings in the rudder bearing on my Moody 31. A poor design IMO.

Yes I agree ,
but I will be able to fit another lip seal within that 15 mm space , which in turn I hope will stop the smear of water I am getting now .