Seized rudder stock

[Fintra]

I am currently struggling to release a seized rudder stock in my Eventide 24. Much heat and brute force have failed to shift it. The links to photos below show the arrangement. The installation dates from the late 60's, and I'm not clear on how the bearing and mounts are arranged. Before I take the next step, of cutting the bottom bracket away and trying to drop the whole assembly out, I thought I would canvas for any experience or advice there might be out there.

If by some miracle I can drop the lot out, I assume I can replace the shells in the top bearing. Is there another bearing at the point where the stock exits the hull?

Any advice or guidance would be appreciated.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4OUtwG2IaLkV0ZxZk1EVUFiOWc/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4OUtwG2IaLkZkVvWm1XNWJIQTA/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4OUtwG2IaLkaTRGZHp3VFRCYkk/view?usp=sharing

 

[Tranona]

As you know, most Eventides were home built and there was really no "standard" rudder arrangement. Mine, for example was built by Hartwells and has a large wooden skeg with a detachable shoe housing a bearing. Very easy to remove the shoe and drop the whole thing.

Your rudder tube is a very common type and will probably have a plain bearing top and bottom. Mine are both acetal (Delrin) but Tufnol was commonly used. This is what may well be seized, but you won't know until you get the stock out. To do this you will have to remove the bottom bearing from the skeg, but you may find it actually easier to remove the whole skeg rather than cutting off the bottom. This will have been how it was built - rudder stock inserted then skeg slid on to stock and bolted through the keelson.