Rudder shaft seal on a 1998 Maxi?

[prv]

EDIT: Old thread being updated, no need to answer the original question!

Unlike Kindred Spirit, which had a rudder tube right up through the hull and a tiller attached to the stock on deck, Ariam has a steering quadrant under the aft berth. This of course means a seal around the shaft where it comes through the hull, and that seal seems to be leaking.

The leak is very small, just a couple of drips when the rudder is turned, but with a flat-bottomed modern hull with no real bilge, I want to keep things bone-dry as far as possible.

I don't really know anything about rudder stock seals. I can't see this one without removing the steering quadrant which I haven't yet. Can anyone suggest what sort of thing I might find under there? There's a short length of rigid tube protruding from the side, which is where the drips come from - I'm assuming this is a kind of tell-tale rather than a seal which is designed to drip like an old-fashioned stuffing gland, but maybe I'm wrong and it is just fibre packing after all? The stock diameter is 50mm, if it matters.

Does anybody know what Maxi would have used on a 1998 34? Or failing that, other European boats of a similar vintage?

If whatever-it-is needs replacement rather than adjustment, any pointers on where to get one? In-person near Southampton probably preferred as we might end up doing it on a 24hr lift-out, but mail order remains an option if we can identify it before removal.

Cheers,

Pete

 

[Talulah]

We recently replaced our bronze rudder bearing with a modern Tides Marine bearing. http://www.tidesmarine.co.uk/products/rudder-bearings
The original had a stuffing box type seal which leaked whereas the new one uses a lip seal. Not a direct replacement. The original through hull hole was about 45mm diameter and this had to be opened up to 76mm. Alignment was critical so we used a length of 35mm bar with a guide hole in the end for the hole cutter. The 35mm bar being the same as the rudder stock. The alignement of the enlarged hole was perfect using this technique.
It is unlikely you will be able to buy one off the shelf.
One person on here mentioned they had Marine Propulsion at Shamrock turn them a new bearing. Lots of excellent recommendations for Marine Propulsion so worth contacting them as they are in Southampton.

 

[sailorman]

No help but we have a shaft stuffing box on ours with a greaser

 

[Stork_III]

Speak to Roger at SD Marine, they were Maxi agents for many years and will know what you have as seal. I suspect like the HR you have a pair of lip seals.

 

[prv]

Speak to Roger at SD Marine, they were Maxi agents for many years and will know what you have as seal. I suspect like the HR you have a pair of lip seals.

Roger retired shortly after selling us the boat . Although I suppose he may still be at the end of the phone for the new folks at SD.

Pete

 

[Lucky Duck]

Does anybody know what Maxi would have used on a 1998 34? Or failing that, other European boats of a similar vintage?

A fellow forumite has a similar aged Maxi 1000 and found the importers quite helpful when requiring information about the boat's construction or original specification.

 

[Stork_III]

Roger retired shortly after selling us the boat . Although I suppose he may still be at the end of the phone for the new folks at SD.

Pete

Is Mike still there?

 

[prv]

Is Mike still there?

Dunno, we only ever dealt with Roger and his (female) secretary.

Pete

 

[prv]

A fellow forumite has a similar aged Maxi 1000 and found the importers quite helpful when requiring information about the boat's construction or original specification.

"The importers" would almost certainly have been SD Marine.

I suppose I probably should ask them.

Pete

 

[prv]

So, I've had a reply from Roger Moon via SD. Very helpful, he knows exactly what we're dealing with as he has a 34 himself.

Apparently the bearing in the hull is a plain bronze bearing, with two grooves machined in the internal bore, each holding an O ring that seals against the shaft. The space between the rings can be filled with grease via a nipple, and as well as lubricating the bearing this helps keep water out when the rings get a bit worn.

Before our ownership, Ariam was maintained by a charter company who did the major items (engine, rigging) on the dot but none of the small stuff and ongoing TLC of a conscientious owner. So I doubt the rudder bearing has been greased for many years. Assuming we have the promised grease nipple (I can't remember) then I think I'll pack some grease in for now and think about changing the O rings next winter.

Pete

 

[prv]

Just to bring this up to date for anyone googling...

We took Ariam out of the water yesterday and dropped the rudder. Doing so required removing two pins, one under the steering quadrant and one above the headlining - it took us some minutes of head scratching and wiggling the rudder to find the upper one.

Stork above wins the coconut for guessing the arrangement - a pair of lip seals (standard automotive oil seals) in the lower bronze bearing, and a third at deck level to keep the rain out. No O rings, no grease nipple as described by Roger Moon - I guess they changed the design during production.

The seal sizes are 2 off 50 - 65 - 8 and one off 50 - 60 - 10 and any seal and bearing stockist ought to have them. I'm about to go and pick some up, and we should be back in the water this afternoon

Pete

 

[rogerthebodger]

Insure the lip seals you get have stainless or copper springs as standars oil seal springs corrode quickly in sea water.