How much rudder slop is too much?

[atroon]

Making my list of all the things to fix aboard the O'Day 28 before splash day in Lake Michigan, and I can't find much about O'Day rudders anywhere, other than that all the others seem to delaminate or come off the shaft.

Rudder itself seems very sound, there are no cracks or splits, and no obvious patching. The tiller handle was new two years ago (via the PO) and I have been working on re-sealing it and making a sun cover this winter.

There's a small amount of play in the rudder, I'd say 3/8 inch or so...not around the shaft, but the whole shaft wiggles side to side or fore and aft. Like there's a worn bearing...but is there a bearing? I can't seem to find any details on how the rudder's attached or how to service it. (That seems to have been in the category of 'if you bought a boat you should already know this stuff' from the original manuals I've seen)

What I really need to know is this: how is the rudder attached on the O'Day 28, and should I mess with it? (Probably. I can't imagine that kind of play is good.) What should I do to improve the situation? Is it a simple bushing? I'm 40 miles inland for winter, so not near by, alas, but planning my weekends in March for polishing and fixing, so...it's time to order some...what? What do I order, and what do I do with it?

 

[Tom Potter]

Hello, I have a wheel and not a tiller, however I expect the rudder shaft area are the same. If they are, you should have 2 grease fittings on the rudder tube. Get you some marine grade grease and a grease gun. I have to dive down the cockpit locker head first and come out feet first. Its a tight fit getting back there. Pumping the rudder tube full of grease may take up the slop.

 

[rajhnsn]

I think you need to get down in that locker and take a look. I replaced my rudder a few years ago. It was quite a production but not very complicated. There is not really much play between the rudder post and the tube on my boat.

 

[atroon]

Thanks Tom and rahjnsn. The grease fittings would seem to be a good place to start. I am going to have to start practicing strategies for going headfirst into that locker...Is the rudder tube fixed to the hull, with the shaft floating inside?

 

[Tom Potter]

I removed my rudder a few weeks ago when I pulled the prop shaft. My rudder shaft runs up through a fiberglass tube. The two grease fittings are located on the upper and lower ends of the fiberglass tube. A helper is highly recommended if you dive in that locker, it's very helpful to have someone to help you get back out. Or better yet enlist a very small person to do it for you.

 

[rajhnsn]

You might want to send a small person down with a camera. I have pretty good access on both sides on the 35 but still a little cramped.

 

[jibes138]

On the 35 it is a lot easier if you pull out the plastic lockers where your propane and other stuff is stored at the aft end of the cockpit. Not sure how big a person can fit down there but at least you get light and ventilation. And you can work upright in a crouch.

 

[AnchorDragger]

Not O'Day

My 1984 Wavelength 24's rudder post requires a thin copper or aluminum shim to take out the slop that has developed between the rudder post and the tube it turns in. It was cut to fit using heavy duty scissors a.k.a. tin snips. You may have to epoxy it to the post. My shiim is about 1 inch wide and goes partially around the top of the post. There is also a thin shim to take up the slack between the tiller handle and the rudder post.

 

[atroon]

Re: Not O'Day

Thanks AnchorDragger. I wondered about something like that as well. Another thing I thought about was a teflon or low-friction plastic bushing at the top/bottom, if there was such a thing or room for one. The grease fittings that Tom Potter mentioned doubtless will be a help as well. I'm trying to remember exactly how the top of the rudderpost is set up, I think it's just the one bolt that is removed to take it off.

 

[rajhnsn]

Plastic bushings are used on the 35.

 

[Rag Doll]

I have an O Day 28 and I grease the rudder shaft every seasons as recommended by the PO. I have Edison Steering and the steering quadrant is located on the rudder post which leaves the rudder tube cut to allow for the quadrant attachment. I think that is why there are two grease fittings ( one for each half of the rudder post) on mine. Check the top of the rudder post where the emergency tiller attaches to the rudder. If you have tiller steering then it would be the location at the top of the rudder tube. On mine it is a tight fit around the rudder post. I never removed the rudder but mine has no play at all. I do have what looks like a washer tight to the hull where the rudder passes through the hulls bottom. I don't know what exists at the lower end of the rudder tube but Tom Potter might be able to help with that answer.
When I grease my rudder at the beginning of the seasons the grease comes out the bottom after about 25 pumps. If the rudder tube was never grease then it may take alot more. Definately you will need someone to assist you just incase you get hung up in the locker. I is tight but doable.

I have had many boats in my day and must admit that the O Day 28 is by all means well put together and quite easy to work on. It is a great boat and I just Love Mine. Good Luck!