Hello I have water coming in through the junction of the rudder and fiberglass. Someone has an idea to fix it.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Water in the junction of the rudder
- Thread starter FastBreak
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Hello Fast Break..do you mean the stern tube??
Check out the Catalina 30 website...there are 'tech tips' floating around in there about the stuffing box in the rudder..it tends to leak under power when the stern is squatting & there is a large stern wave. Mine leaks too, but I have not fixed it.
Check out the Catalina 30 website...there are 'tech tips' floating around in there about the stuffing box in the rudder..it tends to leak under power when the stern is squatting & there is a large stern wave. Mine leaks too, but I have not fixed it.
Exactly. I read the thing with the film that you intoduit in the tube to make everything tight. I'm going to experience this spring.
Thank you!
Me to! I'm getting ready to pull her and try the remedy that I found on the Catalina website. Here is the link that seems to be very descriptive.
http://www.catalina30.com/TechLib/Catalina Yachts Library/factory.htm
Who ever finishes first must fill in the other one on what to do different!
http://www.catalina30.com/TechLib/Catalina Yachts Library/factory.htm
Who ever finishes first must fill in the other one on what to do different!
I think the 'jam some shims in the tube' fix are to remove sloppiness from tube wear over the years..I do not think it will solve the leaky stuffing box problem. I would assume most owners wouldn't even know the sloppy tube problem existed unless you are like me and have tiller steering and can feel the rudder shaft flop around in the out-of-round rudder tube. The other fix for that is to build 'bearings' into the tube by injecting graphite filled West System epoxy. This is pretty much the same fix as detailed in the PDF from Jeff's link above (http://www.catalina30.com/TechLib/Rudder Shaft/rudder-repair.pdf) , but I'll be contacting the West System guys and using their products..apparently the graphite in the epoxy helps to act as a lubricant for the bearing you build during the injection process (kinda like graphite powder on pinewood derby cars, in your key locks, etc.)
Max Munger (the Stu Jackson of C-30's, class treasurer & at some point the Catalina 30 website manager) over on the C-30 Yahoo group would be able to confirm this. I think they are two separate 'problems'.
edit - after re-reading that PDF it looks like the 'epoxy injection' method will also seal a leaky tube if you follow their instructions (reference page 5 of the PDF) & page 10 has wheel steering detail.
Max Munger (the Stu Jackson of C-30's, class treasurer & at some point the Catalina 30 website manager) over on the C-30 Yahoo group would be able to confirm this. I think they are two separate 'problems'.
edit - after re-reading that PDF it looks like the 'epoxy injection' method will also seal a leaky tube if you follow their instructions (reference page 5 of the PDF) & page 10 has wheel steering detail.
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You don't have to haul the boat to replace the rudder stock stuffing box material. It is above the water level unless you have ten guys in the quarter berth helping you. There are three bolts on the stuffing box top you back off so you can raise the stuffiing box top, clean out the old stuffing, insert a new roll of 3/8 "flax stuffing material lower the top back down and replace and snug up the bolts.
In rare instances the lower stuffing box fitting which is glassed to the rudder tube comes detached from the fiberglass rudder tube and leaks between the lower bronze stuffing box fitting and the fg rudder tube but this is rare. If you still have a leak after replacing the stuffing material check this out while you are under way - the fix is then to reglass the lower fitting to the rudder tube. both images are from the catalina 30 international web site.
"twice around" you are right the mylar shims are only to reduce play in the rudder shaft they or the "epoxy" method will not fix a rudder post leak.
In rare instances the lower stuffing box fitting which is glassed to the rudder tube comes detached from the fiberglass rudder tube and leaks between the lower bronze stuffing box fitting and the fg rudder tube but this is rare. If you still have a leak after replacing the stuffing material check this out while you are under way - the fix is then to reglass the lower fitting to the rudder tube. both images are from the catalina 30 international web site.
"twice around" you are right the mylar shims are only to reduce play in the rudder shaft they or the "epoxy" method will not fix a rudder post leak.
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tomfoolery, thanks for those diagrams. I have a '77 tiller steered boat, and my access is thru the back end of the quarter berth..there is no 'access hatch' in the lazarette (I am sure I could make one.) It will be interesting to see if I have the aforementioned stuffing box, etc.. since I don't have any of the other stuff (quandrant, etc..) I think my fiberglass tube goes right from the hull to the deck..it is a pain to climb back there (replaced the exhaust hose & thru-hull a couple years back) so my recollection of the exact layout is a little hazy.
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