Yankee 30 Message Board

Posted by Steve Botts on 4/13/2005, 8:51 pm, in reply to "rudder still stiff"
69.104.176.101

In my boat, there is a rudder shaft log that keeps water out. It has packing just like a prop shaft. Have you considered dropping the rudder to see if the shaft is bent? --Previous Message-- : I removed the cap on the threaded bronze pipe : thru hull fitting where the rudder post : comes thru the hull, right down at the hull. : There was a cap that the rudder shaft went : right thru and a backing nut below the cap : on the threaded pipe. I slid the cap up the : rudder shaft and expected to find some sort : of packing between the shaft and the : thru-pipe. No such thing there. The rudder : shaft fits tight in the pipe. I've picked at : it and can't see any stuffing or any room to : fit ANYTHING for that matter. I even put a : bead of machine oil at the pipe and : thru-fitting contact under the cap. The oil : won't even suck into the seam. The oil has : been sitting there for 3 weeks even though I : keep moving the rudder back & forth : trying to free it up and get the oil into : the shaft to pipe contact. Can't figure it : out. It still operates with difficulty. : Looking up from the outside it looks like : there is some sort of plastic liner between : pipe and shaft going through the hull. I : don't hear or feel metal on metal, : thankfully. There must be something keeping : the two metal sufaces from contacting, but : why so tight? Is this normal? This rudder : assembly is new to me. Has anyone else had : this trouble? Any suggestions appreciated. : Going back in the water soon. Thanks. : : : : : :