Ruder bearings Bav30

[castoffandgone]

Our Bav30 has slight play in the rudder bearings (not the linkage, just the bearings). It is not noticeable when helming, but you can feel the movement when you handle the foot of the rudder when it is out of the water. When the boat was out the water last spring for anti-fouling an on-site surveyor had a look at it and said it was nothing to worry about, just keep an eye on it. His view was that it was better to have it slightly loose for lighter steering than really tight making the steering stiff.

Any views on whether the bearings should be changed or if this is normal and acceptable. Also, has anyone changed the rudder bearings on a Bav30. As my husband is not very fit or mechanically minded, what should we expect to pay to have the work done by the marina engineer.

Thank you.

 

[castoffandgone]

Sorry - RUDDER bearings not ruder bearings

 

[Blueboatman]

Decision time is when the clonking starts to be noticeable in the sleeping cabins, so a while yet!

 

[TiggerToo]

How much would you say does the rudder move by?
Also, if the surveyor told you it is OK, I'd be happy... they tend to be on the cautious side

 

[cmedsailor]

Almost all spade rudders have some play even in brand new boats. This is because rudders are hanging from up there (nothing to hold them at their "loose" foot) and there also needs to be some gap between the rudder shaft and the bearings so they can rotate.
If during sailing the rudder respons OK then you shouldn't really worry. Saying this, I have just completed dropping the rudder, cleaning, greasing and puting back everything (the play hasn't changed of course).

 

[castoffandgone]

Last spring the movement would be about 1/4" from dead centre to either side and to fore and aft.

There is no "clunking" noise when at anchor or for that matter when sailing or motoring.

 

[vyv_cox]

The top bearing of our rudder had a bit of play when we bought the boat. We have kept an eye on it for the last 15 years, since when it has worsened very slightly, if at all.

 

[castoffandgone]

That is all good to hear. I'll obviously have another look at it during this springs annual lift out and if no worse, we will run with it for another season.

Just out of interest, anyone have a rough idea of the cost to have the bearings replaced ?

 

[cmedsailor]

Just out of interest, anyone have a rough idea of the cost to have the bearings replaced ?

Costs of buying new bearings or cost of labour?
For new bearings you could contact Bavaria I guess (though I haven't replaced mine I know that a couple of years ago top bearing was around €140 and lower around €100 from Beneteau).
Cost of labour? It really depends on how much space is down there to remove the quadrant. For me, removing the quadrant was only four bolts and another four bolts to remove the autopilot. But the access was horrible and it took me a few hours to drop the rudder and then some more hours to put it back. My back still hurts!!

 

[Bav34]

Strangely enough I found this to be an easy job ... once I'd got 'the mistake' out of the way

We've moved our boat to Brittany and before we left I wanted to get the jobs out of the way that I thought would need yard input. This was the only one.

We have the shallow draft version and there isn't enough room to drop the rudder when the boat is resting on its keel normally:

so I simply got the UK yard to put the boat on blocks to give me the space that I needed.

First job is to put some blocks under the bottom of the rudder and use a couple of chocks to take weight.

Then undo the retaining ring under the seat ... a machine screw clamps the ring together and you'll need to get a C spanner to undo the ring.

Then get yourself comfy in the stern cabin with a large Allen key and undo BUT DON'T TAKE OFF the quadrant clamp on the rudder shaft. You only have to loosen the clamp enough for the shaft to slide through.

Once the clamp feels free simply remove the chocks, and rest, then remove the next block, and rest and you'll suddenly find that you have this in your hands

obviously without the top bearing and fittings.

There was nothing wrong with mine so I simply cleaned everything up and reassembled ... wishing heartily that I hadn't actually undone the Allen bolts all the way.

Now, that WAS a pain

 

[castoffandgone]

Brilliant. Thanks a million for the information and the photographs. I now think that if the job needs doing we will attempt it ourselves with a bit of help from our sons.

 

[nigelmercier]

.
Once the clamp feels free simply remove the chocks, and rest, then remove the next block, and rest

Don't forget the gorilla you need to lift it back up.

 

[castoffandgone]

Was that an offer! Joking of course.

 

[knuterikt]

First job is to put some blocks under the bottom of the rudder and use a couple of chocks to take weight.

Once the clamp feels free simply remove the chocks, and rest, then remove the next block, and rest and you'll suddenly find that you have this in your hands

Don't forget the gorilla you need to lift it back up.

What is wrong with using a rope + cockpit winches?
Give full control both going down & up..

 

[haydude]

Our Bav30 has slight play in the rudder bearings (not the linkage, just the bearings). It is not noticeable when helming, but you can feel the movement when you handle the foot of the rudder when it is out of the water. When the boat was out the water last spring for anti-fouling an on-site surveyor had a look at it and said it was nothing to worry about, just keep an eye on it. His view was that it was better to have it slightly loose for lighter steering than really tight making the steering stiff.

If there is a small play and the surveyor said it is fine, then do not worry about it. In fact it is a sign that your bearings are still good.
These boats, and not just Bavaria, but also Dufour and the like have nylon bearings that suffer exactly of the opposite issue, which is the bearings with salt water and time do expand until they make the steering really hard and on the worst cases they lock the rudder. A few years ago a Dufour 42 Classic was abandoned in the Atlantic because of this reason: the rudder locked and it was impossible to control.