Stiff rudder

[TiggerToo]

The rudder on my boat (spade) is becoming stiff. The stiffness appears to be due to friction between the rudder shaft and the tube/bearings. Any ideas of what one might be able to do about this? Do I really have to lift the boat out of the water? Or is it possible to lubricate the offending parts? If so, what would you recommend using?

 

[PaulR]

the spade rudder on my dehler 34 also became stiff to turn over winter layup ashore- we lowered it and regreased the nylon style bottom bearing and fine since- did wonder if once it was afloat it would have eased off with water in bearing but since out of water easy to grease - assuming you are staying afloat can you get fresh water down the rudder tube to rinse the bottom bearing?

 

[rudolph_hart]

If your rudder bearing is Nylon, the cause is most likely water absorbtion in the bearing. It will only get worse. I'm told that Olive Oil (doesn't have to be Extra Virgin, apparently /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif) can be a preventive measure, and can also alleviate it in the short term.

I know of several Dehlers that sufferred from it (2 were my own), and bearing replacement was the permanent cure.

 

[Talbot]

Bearings need to be made of delrin otherwise they will get stiffer.

 

[neil_s]

I had the same problem on my Seal 28. I kept feeding WD40 in around the top of the shaft. It took a while for the lube to percolate down the tube since it had become quite tight, but it got there in the end and did ease up the stiff steering.

Neil

 

[savageseadog]

Might be bent?

 

[Robin]

There are some perhaps vital differences in modern bearings. We once looked at a Dufour Classic 41 and I'm pretty sure it had a more high-tech rudder bearing system than the more usual plain bearings. If that is the case on your Dufour 35 as well then the question is significantly different I believe because the bearings are a roller type fitted as a complete assembly when the boat is built.

Plain bearings are usually made from a plastic, like Delrin but there are newer materials too. Nylon is the WRONG material as it absorbs water and swells much more than modern materials.

 

[Graham_Wright]

Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMPE), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE,- bonus,-it floats!), Acetal, PTFE (very slippy but soft), glass loaded ditto.

There are loads of choices (even Delryn).

If not sure if a plastic absorbs water, microwave it after soaking in water (in the company of a pot of something to save blowing up the microwave).

If the sample gets hot, it has absorbed waterl.

 

[srp]

Most plastics absorb water. Google 'Vesconite' - absolutely the best material available for prop shaft and rudder bearings, with very low water absorbtion and therefore minimal expansion. Plenty of technical info on their web site about tolerances etc so that you can machine your own (or get a friendly lathe-owner to do it for you). I made up new prop shaft bearings on my boat 5 years ago and they're still perfect - no measurable wear, and much better than the poxy rubber cutlass bearings fitted to most shafts. Rudder bearings made from vesconite will last a lifetime.
ps - www.vesconite.com - the uk branch is in Northampton 01604 231948.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I agree with Vesconite. Both my prop shaft and rudder bearings are made of this. In South Africa it is used in the gold mines where nothing else will last

 

[boguing]

Really hard to diagnose without inspecting it. Most 'plastics' take up water, but this shouldn't be a problem after a season or two - can't get much wetter.

So lubrication is most likely to help.

You might also look at salt build up in the tube.