40.5 rudder shaft bearing

[bustedrudder]

On the hard today.

The rudder shaft is picking up a little play, at least more than i recall from the haulout when we surveyed her a year ago.

Do you 40.5 owners have the same "spacer" at the bottom of the shaft?
I can't tell if it is a spacer to keep the rudder from impacting the hull in a grounding or if it simply floats up when in the water, or is it a fractured rudder bearing?

We have noticed no problem with the rudder sailing, but will have to check into this more ina couple of years as Paul Cossman did with his Passage 42:

http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=871155&highlight=40.5 rudder

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Over time and with use, it wears causing some play. I don't recall it ever being objectionable but have noticed some play in mine but as it never got progressively worse, I never changed it. I think Hunter recommended replacement when the play exceeded .5 inches side to side

 

[bustedrudder]

Thanks Don!
I assume that play is at the rudder tip?

 

[Rich Stidger]

I have one of those spacers also. I don't know what is is used for.

I have about 3/32" of play athwart-ships at the spacer, and probably 3/8" at the tip. I noticed it in 2003-4 and it hasn't seemed to get any worse. The Hunter factory and two dealers told me not to worry about it. They said some boats have a bit of slop and some don't. They said to keep an eye on it each year and not to be concerned unless it gets worse. I think they told me that the rudder bearings were good for 100K nm.

 

[bustedrudder]

Thanks guys, just haven't found the odometer yet

 

[Don12364]

I had to fit one of these when my rudder floated up and began binding on the hull.
When next we were on the hard but not wanting to have the yard crane lift the boat specially, I sawed a 1/2" off a 6" diameter PVC sewer pipe, sawed through one side of it, sprung it over the rudder stock and put a 6" diameter jubilee clip round to hold it in place.

All about 15 years ago. No bothers since.