Rudder shaft tube?

[Clyde_Wanderer]

Hi me again.
Can someone explain to me about rudder shaft tubes? ie, is the tube laminated into the hull and top end, or is there some sort of screw in ring nuts to hold it in place with some sort of seals at top and bottom? Is there any web link which shows diagrams etc?
Sorry if question seems daft, but this is first sail boat, and not delved into this area yet. Cheers, Thanks, Eamonn.

 

[beneteau_305_553]

Yes.

Rudder shaft tubes are normally laminated into the hull at the bottom.

Some have a crude seal at the top of the tube. They rely on this seal and a resonable fit of the shaft in the lower bearing to prevent big changes in the water level in the tube.

Others have a rubber tube to connect the tube to the top bearing housing which keeps any water out of the inside of the boat.

 

[Clyde_Wanderer]

Thanks Hunterwanderer.
Iam sure mine has a rubber tube somewhere on it, cant remember if at top or bottom though, cant kneel at the moment to look, but dropped rudder today to remove prop off shaft, but could not take rudder away completly as it dropped to ground, but shaft still runs up far enough not to let me get rudder away altogether.
How would one go about renewing the bottom seal?
Cheers, Eamonn.

 

[beneteau_305_553]

The bottom of the tube is usually fibreglassed into the hull so there is no lower shaft seal.

There is normally just a plain bronze or plastic bush pushed into the tube from below. A good clearance is required to eliminate chance of fine sand etc binding up bearing


I dont know any way of getting to the bearing without removing the rudder.

 

[oldsaltoz]

Re: Rudder shaft tube? *DELETED*

Post deleted by oldsaltoz

 

[bigwow]

I think he's talking about a rudder tube not a stern tube

 

[Clyde_Wanderer]

Hi Oldsaltoz,
Think you got the wrong end of the stick here.
My question is on rudder tube, not prop tube. Thanks anyway.
Eamonn.
Ps will send you some more pics soon.