How do I drop this rudder?

[Sea Change]

I'm wanting to lower the rudder a few inches (not necessarily remove completely). I've already taken off the lower bearing, which way just a simple Delrin block on the outside of the hull.
The weight of the rudder appears to be held by the upper bearing, see photo.
Does anybody recognise this? I don't want to undo anything that I don't have to.
I realise I'll have to loosen off the quadrant as well.

 

[Roberto]

Have you got an M10 threaded hole on the top of the rudder stock, the one used to lock the emergency tiller ? If so, use an M10 screw eye, a bar across the cockpit to attach a tackle then you lift the rudder a little to free the ring and the quadrant, then lower by however you want.

 

[Sea Change]

Have you got an M10 threaded hole on the top of the rudder stock, the one used to lock the emergency tiller ? If so, use an M10 screw eye, a bar across the cockpit to attach a tackle then you lift the rudder a little to free the ring and the quadrant, then lower by however you want.

So are you saying that the top bearing doesn't actually hold the weight of the rudder?
There was no sign that the bottom bearing was taking the weight- when I removed it, I hadn't supported the rudder yet and it didn't sag at all.

 

[Roberto]

So are you saying that the top bearing doesn't actually hold the weight of the rudder?
There was no sign that the bottom bearing was taking the weight- when I removed it, I hadn't supported the rudder yet and it didn't sag at all.

Sorry probably my bad wording: yes the steel ring holds the rudder weight; mine is white plastic with just three set screws against the stock (located like the red circled ones). Yours being steel, there is an additional plastic ring below (blue brush) over the fixed one (pink brush), the green circled screws keep it at the proper height.



Or, you can make a sort of rudder harness to keep it up, with lifting strops brought up to the cockpit of course (here I was just taking measurements). The two half-cups at the skeg do not bear any weight.


Will you work on the rudder while on the hard or while floating?

 

[Sea Change]

Sorry probably my bad wording: yes the steel ring holds the rudder weight; mine is white plastic with just three set screws against the stock (located like the red circled ones). Yours being steel, there is an additional plastic ring below (blue brush) over the fixed one (pink brush), the green circled screws keep it at the proper height.


View attachment 209589
Or, you can make a sort of rudder harness to keep it up, with lifting strops brought up to the cockpit of course (here I was just taking measurements). The two half-cups at the skeg do not bear any weight.
View attachment 209590

Will you work on the rudder while on the hard or while floating?

Brilliant, thanks. We're on the hard. Not actually working on the rudder- we're Coppercoating the boat and we can't really do a proper job of it with the rudder in place.

So if I'm understanding correctly, I have to support the weight of the rudder fully and then remove the horizontal screws?

 

[Roberto]

Brilliant, thanks. We're on the hard. Not actually working on the rudder- we're Coppercoating the boat and we can't really do a proper job of it with the rudder in place.

So if I'm understanding correctly, I have to support the weight of the rudder fully and then remove the horizontal screws?

When I antifoul I push the rudder fully to one side, paint, then the other side, leaves access to the whole hull, but not exactly at the same time of course.
Yes support the rudder, after the horizontal screws are loosened the ring will be able to slide; depending upon the size of free space you need between the rudder blade top and the hull, maybe the quadrant could be left in place (?).
This sort of device coupled with some hard wood blocks could prove useful: you slide it into a narrow space then inflate, there are models holding 100-200-300kg, people sometimes even use them to lift the engine (I am planning too, removal of silent blocks hopefully).

 

[Sea Change]

To do the Coppercoat properly I don't think the usual tactic of moving the rudder side to side will cut it. I've spent a lot of money on this stuff and I don't want to mess it up!

Those air bags would be ideal, I've got some back home that I've used for all sorts of things, including installing a patio door that weighed a quarter of a tonne.

For now, I think a ratchet strap will have to do.