I just purchased a 1983 Hunter 31 in Fl; it has some slight Hurricane damage, i.e. bent rudder and a few other things. Dose anyone have any suggestions to fixing the rudder, buy a new one? Or cut and re-weld the old one? Any advice would be greatly helpful. I'm headed down there to work on it this week from Minnesota. Thanks!
Bent Rudder Hunter 31
- Thread starter Chris W.
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Hurricane Damage
Replacing a strut is a bolt on change out, assuming you can get the parts from Hunter. You should check the shaft and shaft coupling at the transmission for alignment. I believe it has a one inch bronze shaft keyed into a steel two part four bolt flange at the transmission. The shaft log, and stuffing box where the shaft goes throught the hull should be inspected to seee if they are damaged. It is easy enough to remove the shaft if the flange bolts are not too rusted. Once you are installing the straightened or new shaft, cutlass bearing and strut , you should be able to see if the motor mounts are OK when you are doing the shaft alignment. The rudder on a boat that old should probably be replaced, but again, as you remove the original , you should be able to determine if there is related damage to the hull and the stern post thru which the rudder post passes. Good luck.
Replacing a strut is a bolt on change out, assuming you can get the parts from Hunter. You should check the shaft and shaft coupling at the transmission for alignment. I believe it has a one inch bronze shaft keyed into a steel two part four bolt flange at the transmission. The shaft log, and stuffing box where the shaft goes throught the hull should be inspected to seee if they are damaged. It is easy enough to remove the shaft if the flange bolts are not too rusted. Once you are installing the straightened or new shaft, cutlass bearing and strut , you should be able to see if the motor mounts are OK when you are doing the shaft alignment. The rudder on a boat that old should probably be replaced, but again, as you remove the original , you should be able to determine if there is related damage to the hull and the stern post thru which the rudder post passes. Good luck.
Rudder from the picture looks ok, replace shaft
I had a similar problem a few years ago. The shaft looks bent. If it is, it is better to replace it than trying to bend it back. If the rudder is not damaged, or even if it is, it can be repaired and used again. If you are close to Clearwater I can give you a referrence to the shop that repaired mine.
I had a similar problem a few years ago. The shaft looks bent. If it is, it is better to replace it than trying to bend it back. If the rudder is not damaged, or even if it is, it can be repaired and used again. If you are close to Clearwater I can give you a referrence to the shop that repaired mine.
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