H25 stiff rudder

[Marcie Robson]

The rudder asmbly is stiff, it practically stays where you put it. I need to know if it can be helped by lubing it with a silicone grease and what do you take apart to do this and if it can be done in the water... I plan to go through it when we lift it for the winter anyway but untill then Id like to see what i can do ...... I looked in the very general owners manual which covers all the steering asm axcept the 25.. I e- mailed hunter and got nothing they told me it was too old and didnt have any diagrams or anything because it was so old ..... he didnt mention parts availability is this going to be a problen too .. we just purchased the boat and it is in good shape compared to others available ....the only advice from hunter was to haul it and take it apart.... I have repaired equipment for 12 yrs and know its better to be familiar with somthings before taking them apart..... i also checked the archives and found a question in the older system but couldnt find any replies it came up when I searched under rudder.... any help would be appreciated.... Thanks in advance...Marcie

 

[Jack Harness]

Stiff rudder reply

I have a Hunter 25, 1977, I have not had your type of problem, but I don't see why you can't put some lube,(light oil) through the top and see if there is a difference. You might want to check the nylon plates on top and make sure they are not to tight.

 

[Michael O'Hara]

Damaged Rudder?

Marcie, my '81 H25 has a "snug" rudder, but any reasonable water movement will move the rudder/tiller. And the design is so simple (it kinda' scares me!) that I don't think that you could have any conditions within the rudder post housing that would be causing your rudder problems (like some kind of algae or grease build-up). More likely, your previous owner grounded the boat in some way that jammed the rudder and bent the post - in which case, you should also be checking the condition of your keel and keel bolts.Taking the rudder off is not something I've done or want to do; however, it should be relatively easy IF you have room underneath the boat, and that may not be possible on a trailer. There is a way you can support the rudder with a "sling" which would allow you to remove the tiller and the plastic collar without dumping the rudder to the bottom. It's hard to describe, so if you're interested, let me know and I'll try to locate a picture reference I've seen a while back.That's a long way around the barn just to tell you that you should get someone to check out your rudder for a bent rudder post.Good Luck!Michael O'

 

[Hardy Scroggin]

I agre with Mike. I recently bought back my 1979 that I sold about 7 yrs ago and noticed that the rudder was very stiff and didn't seem to go hard over all the way to Port and to Stbd. When I hauled the boat I dropped the rudder which is easily done on the trailer (I have a fin keel) and as I suspected the rudder post was bent approx 1.5 in. from a grounding or hitting something. I took the rudder to a shop and supported and braced it and veeery, veeery carefully had if strainghtened in a press while I stood by sweating "bullets"hoping that the post would not rip out of the rudder from the strain. I lubricated the shaft and reinstalled the rudder and the stiff problem was solved and I can also now access the aft lazerette without removing the bolt and nut from the tiller head. I don't see any way that this could be accomplished with the boat in the water.Hardy Scroggin S/V Gingersnap