Rudder hinge replacement

[seaangler23]

The lower hinge on my rudder has decomposed to say the least, not having much experience in this what's my options, I can get a laith and knock one up if I have time but I work away a lot and if she wants to see the water this year il need to get someone to make me one or is there anything on the market I could adapt? Also if I was to make it can it be done in ss and if so what grade do I need? I was thinking of ss and a nylon tophat style bush to prevent play ( also do the top 2 hinges in a similar style) and reduce wear but read nylon swells in water which is no good, any alternatives?
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[srp]

Stainless 316, if you want to use stainless steel. Might be worth looking on the Classic Marine or Colin Frake websites to see if they have an off the shelf item that might fit, but that would be bronze or galvanised steel.
If you want to use plastic bushes I would personally use Vesconite (there is a UK office and in the past they have supplied me with offcuts for a reasonable price). Others use Acetal for the same job. You don't need to make them super accurate for a rudder - there usually isn't a lot of load (unless you've got something faster than a 23' displacement fishing boat, which I'm guessing you might have) and it doesn't revolve at the speed of light - but it is annoying if it's too loose and clanks about.

 

[seaangler23]

cheers il have a look, its more to do with the clanking about than anything, its old skool engineering on it but doesn't mean I cant upgrade it. Would I get away with bronze bushings? Shel be pushing 8knots I think so as long as I can keep the whackle factor in the rudder reasonable il be happy

 

[Tranona]

Galvanised welded steel will do the job if you don't want to use 316 stainless. Acetal bush - Delrin is the easily available type. No need to mess around with bronze. I replaced a similar arrangement with a bronze casting (because I fancied the challeng) but fitted a Delrin bush. Nearly 20 years and no wear on the bush. Rudder stock is 316 stainless.

 

[seaangler23]

cheers, il try my local fabricators to make it or order the stuff and do it myself but by the time I source the bits, get argon and stainless mig wire I may be better off just getting them to do it