Help - Hunter 40 Rudder Removal

[DivinaVitae]

I have a 1985 Hunter 40 with a delaminated rudder. I have been told that I need to drop the rudder; however, this is proving to be quite difficult.

The steering quadrant on this boat is located just above the lazerette floor. As instructed by the boat yard, I have removed a bolt passes above the main body of the quadrant and a threaded pin that runs below the quadrant. The boat yard crew says the rudder and post should drop out. This is not the case!

Below the lazerette floor, behind the aft stateroom, there is a fiberglass rudder tube that appears to hold the bearing surfaces for the rudder post. I can find no access/inspection ports for this tube.

Am I missing something here? Any help is GREATLY appreciated.

Rick

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

You likely have an aluminum quadrant attached to a steel rudder post. Not easily separated after a prolonged period.

 

[DivinaVitae]

You likely have an aluminum quadrant attached to a steel rudder post. Not easily separated after a prolonged period.

Don:

Thank you so much for your reply! I agree with your assessment, the quadrant does indeed appear to be cast aluminum. Two dissimilar metals in such close proximity for several decades could create a near weld-like condition. I guess my best option is to separate the demi quadrants to minimize the coefficients of friction; then, apply a distraction/shearing force to the involved components.

Thank you again for your reply! If you, or anyone else, has a proven course of action for this situation, I would indeed be interested to hear your ideas.

Rick

 

[John Nantz]

The aluminum quadrant has stainless steel screws and these are undoubtedly also “welded”; however, to remove them just torque the nuts and the heads hard to shear the bolt. Buy new fasteners, coat them well with something like LanoCoat before putting it back together.

The threaded portion of the bolts that were inside the quadrant should also be coated.

Ditto the cables.

Good time to lube the pully/sheave axels on the helm too.

 

[DivinaVitae]

The aluminum quadrant has stainless steel screws and these are undoubtedly also “welded”; however, to remove them just torque the nuts and the heads hard to shear the bolt. Buy new fasteners, coat them well with something like LanoCoat before putting it back together.

The threaded portion of the bolts that were inside the quadrant should also be coated.

Ditto the cables.

Good time to lube the pully/sheave axels on the helm too.

Hello John!

Thank you for the reply and the advice. I have loosened the two 9/16 nuts that are attached to the machine screws that connect the two quadrant halves together. As you indicated, I thought I would have to shear these fasteners, but they came loose with a normal amount of torque.

Although these two fasteners are now loose, the quadrant halves remain joined. The marina yard crew indicated that these two fasteners did not need to be completely removed to drop the rudder. Perhaps, they have not encountered a 35 years old Yacht Specialties steering gear and they are mistaken.

Inasmuch as I am unfamiliar with the Yacht Specialties steering system, I will continue to ask for advice; and, increase the forces that I apply to the system. However, after I get the rudder to drop and correct the delamination issues, I will implement each of your sound maintenance recommendations.

Thank you for taking the time to respond!

Rick

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

After re-reading the q, it dawned on me you may be doing some unnecessary work here if your desire is solely to repair delamination which can be done in-situ. Obviously, we don't know the severity of the delamination and repairs may be facilitated by removal but some minor delamination can be dealt with while still vertical.

Is that not an option?

If it matters, we had Foss Foam rudder on a H 40.5. When purchased in 1992, the rudder was delaminated on the port side over an area of approx. 6sq. ft. Decided to do some 'watchful waiting' and over the next 10 years at which point we sold the boat, the problem never spread or otherwise changed in any way.

 

[John Nantz]

I have loosened the two 9/16 nuts that are attached to the machine screws that connect the two quadrant halves together. As you indicated, I thought I would have to shear these fasteners, but they came loose with a normal amount of torque.

If the quadrant is just above the "lazarette floor”, if this is protected from the weather, than that is proably what really helped to protect it so that’s a plus.

I thought Edson bought out Yacht Specialties but just did a search and found that they went out of business. http://www.edsonmarine.com/support/faq.php#q20 see Q/A #20 Bummer.

If the thing is still stubborn …. what I’m thinking is there must be another couple bolts somewhere that are hard to spot. If not, …. that’s getting to the end of my boatyard expertise.

Tomorrow morning I’m going up the mast to replace the deck light on the steaming/deck light fixture. Seems there is always something to do.