stormdancer
New member
last weekend I was reversing hard against a flooding tide, I noticed water leaking into the cockpit from the tiller post. Is this normal or do I have a problem
rudder problem
- Thread starter stormdancer
- Start date
castaway
New member
I think a few more details are required here....Im sure someone can help. regds Nick
Chris_Stannard
New member
You do not say what kind of boat you have, which would help in trying to isolate the problem. Most rudders have at least two bearings, and in most cases they should not leak. If the bearings are worn they might well in the situation you mention, going strongly astern so that water is pushing up under the counter. There is usually a tube with the top above the waterline to prevent leaks but in your case it sounds as if it comes right up to the cockpit.
If the rudder is supported on a skeg bearing wear can be more difficult to detect, but try holding the tiller firmly and seeing if there is any lateral or longtitudinal play in the head. Another indication of wear is a dull clonking from the back end when you hit a wave. Once it starts wear tends to increase fairly quickly.
Another thought, do you have a grease packing on the rudder stock, on of thjose round things you pack with grease and give a turn from time to time. If that is dry or you have not turned it lately that would causse the problem.
Chris Stannard
If the rudder is supported on a skeg bearing wear can be more difficult to detect, but try holding the tiller firmly and seeing if there is any lateral or longtitudinal play in the head. Another indication of wear is a dull clonking from the back end when you hit a wave. Once it starts wear tends to increase fairly quickly.
Another thought, do you have a grease packing on the rudder stock, on of thjose round things you pack with grease and give a turn from time to time. If that is dry or you have not turned it lately that would causse the problem.
Chris Stannard
G
Guest
Guest
Check for a leaking rudder tube would be my suggestion, given, as pointed out above, that we don't know what you're sailing.
Just experienced one of these lovelies myself, wasn't a big job to fix.
Fair blows the breeze for Horning... <P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by The_Fruitbat on Wed May 22 23:00:13 2002 (server time).</FONT></P>
Just experienced one of these lovelies myself, wasn't a big job to fix.
Fair blows the breeze for Horning... <P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by The_Fruitbat on Wed May 22 23:00:13 2002 (server time).</FONT></P>
stormdancer
New member
Thanks to you all for relying, sorry for not giving you all the facts.
The boat is a Sunray 21 bilge keel yacht and yes it does have a small skeg, to which the rudder is housed in a bearing at the base and a tube running up through the hull and cockpit and yes there is some movement in the head if you push and pull the tiller. I can't recall seeing a grease packing device, I assume you mean like the type fitted to the prop shaft on internal engines.
I would be most grateful for any advice on how to change these bearings and the best type to buy, a blow by blow account of removal would be great.
I am a heating engineer so I am quite handy when it comes to diy, also would it be possible to undertake this task at low water as I have about 6 hours of dry time per day on my mooring or will it have to be lifted out.
Thanks once again for your help
kind regards
David
The boat is a Sunray 21 bilge keel yacht and yes it does have a small skeg, to which the rudder is housed in a bearing at the base and a tube running up through the hull and cockpit and yes there is some movement in the head if you push and pull the tiller. I can't recall seeing a grease packing device, I assume you mean like the type fitted to the prop shaft on internal engines.
I would be most grateful for any advice on how to change these bearings and the best type to buy, a blow by blow account of removal would be great.
I am a heating engineer so I am quite handy when it comes to diy, also would it be possible to undertake this task at low water as I have about 6 hours of dry time per day on my mooring or will it have to be lifted out.
Thanks once again for your help
kind regards
David
pete
Well-known member
I changed the rudder bearing on my hunter 27 about 2 years ago, the replacement came from the Hunter boats was just a sleeve, tight in the rudder tube and tight on the shaft and appeared to be made from nylon.
( mine is a spade rudder there is no skeg.)
Most rudder shafts have to come out of the bottom of the boat so I put the boat on my yard trolly and reversed it over a slope (to get the ground clearance) but you could dig a hole if the sand or mud allows.
Your rudder is probably also suported at the bottom of the skeg so you would have to check this out and see where the play is, I would be changing this also. If you cannot get the bits they could easily be made up at an engineering shop.
Good luck
( mine is a spade rudder there is no skeg.)
Most rudder shafts have to come out of the bottom of the boat so I put the boat on my yard trolly and reversed it over a slope (to get the ground clearance) but you could dig a hole if the sand or mud allows.
Your rudder is probably also suported at the bottom of the skeg so you would have to check this out and see where the play is, I would be changing this also. If you cannot get the bits they could easily be made up at an engineering shop.
Good luck
