Westerly Pageant/Centaur lower rudder bearing carrier.

[mickywillis]

Have posted this question on the WOA forum as well, so thought I'd try members here!!

Does anyone know what the lower bearing carrier on a Pageant (and indeed the Centaur) bolts into?
On Zara, one of the 4 bolts that go up into the hull is loose, but doesn't pull out, suggesting that the nut or backing plate which it is attached to is still fitted and possibly seized?
Tese 4 bolts are the ones seen when looking up at the stern of the boat, just above the top of the upper edge of the rudder. they must hold the lower bearing carrier into the hull? i amd assuming that the bolts fit into captive nuts, bonded in with the GRP, but I cannot see them either in the cockpit locker or in the cockpit itself, under the tiller handle, where the shaft exits. I guess the only way to get to them is by removing the fuel tank and crawling into the void between the aft end of the cockpit access hatch and the stern locker??
Picture can be viewed at:

http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww56 ... C01335.jpg


Thanks,

 

[VicS]

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[Kylora]

This is your photo

Ash

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

If you have a Centaur, the rudder stock goes through a tube that connects the plate in the photo to the plate in the cockpit floor where the tiller is attached. Without this tube water would flood into the boat. There is a space beneath the floor of the lazarette of some 25cms. The only access is from behind the fuel tank or by cutting an access hatch in the floor of the lazarette. This is not too thick and is easily cut with a jigsaw. (I forgot what it is made of)

 

[oldsaltoz]

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[ianat182]

I confirm what Puff has said. I cut a 6"circular hole in the floor of the cockpit just ahead of the rudder stock and fitted a plastic screw hatch so that I can get to this problem should it occur again.The four bolts are fed through then fixed with(now)nyloc locknuts.A Sikaflex sealant should be applied on the outer flange to stop water ingress. I now check this area on a periodic basis as the bearings and tube are subject to some considerableforce.
We nearly lost my boat(a Tiger) when the nuts worked loose, first indications were in rough seas when the bilge started to fill, we were luckily able to put up on the hard and deal with when the tide dropped!

 

[Bilgediver]

Those bolts are nutted inside the hull and if like my chieftain , with small washers.

I would suggest penny washers to prevent crushing the hull with overtorquing. These nuts seem to have a habit of coming losse from snippets heard over the years around the marina and result in a dribble or more of water appearing around the sterntube as it runs down behind the fuel tank.

On the Chieftain I can with difficulty get to them from the aft cabin however in the centaur and pageant they will be in the lazarette and as one other has suggested may be accessed by cutting a hole and fitting a dinghy type round hatch for access.

 

[ianat182]

I agree with Bilgediver that larger washers should be fitted here,but as I remember there is very little clearance between the holes and tube,so you may have to cut a slice off a larger washer like 3/4 moon to permit this fit. all four will need to be done like this.

ianat182

 

[Bilgediver]

This might be so on the Pageant however on the Centaur/Chieftain there is loads of room and heaven knows why they wern't fitted by Westerly.

These slack nuts can be the source of an annoying leak that is difficult to find.