Removing bottom rudder bearing

[frilaens]

I have just dropped the rudder while on the water and would like to remove the bottom bearing if possible. The boat is a 1986 Feeling 29-30 footer and to me it looks like the bearing is just a cylinder sitting at the bottom of a 40cm long steel tube (without a lip) glassed into the hull. Am I right in thinking the bearing would be just epoxied in? What is the best way to remove it from inside the boat? Try and knock it down and out? Or make a cut in it first?

 

[robind]

Firstly check with a piece of wire bent at 90 degrees at the end for a lip up in the tube which would denote that a bearing was inserted into the tube (usual but not always) and then how about borrowing an internal head stock bearing puller as used to pull out bearings from the handle bars of motorbikes. they slip into and open out behind these type of bearings and allow you to draw them out. or alternatively try to tap it out, gently, using a bar, going around the bearing edge in a circle, from the top/inside. check for movement with the depth guage side of a micrometer, so as not to damage anything, if it turns out that it is fibreglassed in.
best of luck
Rob

 

[mhouse]

I am just doing the same with my Dehler . After contacting them the bearing has to be chopped out in pieces . I propose to use a pad saw to give 3 vertical cuts and hope full a light chisel.
Good luck.