Bavaria steering, rudder resistance increasing

[boaterbob]

Any advise on fix or intervention for this hard steering rudder?

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

You're going to have to get dirty and start right from the wheel to see where the friction is coming from. This may also include below the water line for hard growth rubbing between the top of the rudder and the hull.

 

[Kings Gambit]

A build up of deposits in the rudder-post tube distorts the Delrin bearing causing it to “squeeze” the rudder post. The deposits have to be removed. On mine a few years ago, the boat had to be hauled and the rudder post pounded down from the top to get it out of the tube so it could be cleaned, etc. This was after soaking with lubricant the post in the tube for a couple of days. Been fine since then.

 

[nightowle]

Kings Gambit has chimed in with the best recommendation for a perennial Bavaria problem. You may also need to replace the Delrin bearing. Obtaining one is fairly easy.