Leaking rudder post

Feb 27, 2022
2
Pearson 10 Meter Pearson 10 Meter Key Biscayne Fl
I have a 1975 Pearson 10 Meter. My rudder post packing is seeping very slow. I am ready to haul out [ every 2 1/2 years] and am going to attack this project. The problem is getting wrenches and 2 arms in the area around the rudder post. I looked at it closely and might have to pull the 20 gallon deisel tank which I dread . Are there any Pearson 10 meter owners that had the same repair.
 

RoyS

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Jun 3, 2012
1,742
Hunter 33 Steamboat Wharf, Hull, MA
I have a different boat with an equally difficult to reach packing nut assembly. You need two short handled open end wrenches, a pipe sleeve, and a hammer. Use a wire brush to clean the visible threads. Use the hammer to strike the sleeved handle of the wrench on the locking nut while bracing the adjustment nut wrench. Once the lock nut is free the fine threaded nuts should spin freely without having to soak everything with penetrating oil. Dreadful job only due to the lack of accessibility. Once you are able to turn the packing nut - tighten while rotating the rudder shaft until you feel some resistance in the rudder shaft rotation. You do not want to do this again for a while. You can buy or make the short handled wrenches.
 
Feb 27, 2022
2
Pearson 10 Meter Pearson 10 Meter Key Biscayne Fl
I have a different boat with an equally difficult to reach packing nut assembly. You need two short handled open end wrenches, a pipe sleeve, and a hammer. Use a wire brush to clean the visible threads. Use the hammer to strike the sleeved handle of the wrench on the locking nut while bracing the adjustment nut wrench. Once the lock nut is free the fine threaded nuts should spin freely without having to soak everything with penetrating oil. Dreadful job only due to the lack of accessibility. Once you are able to turn the packing nut - tighten while rotating the rudder shaft until you feel some resistance in the rudder shaft rotation. You do not want to do this again for a while. You can buy or make the short handled wrenches.
Thanks RoyS, I appreciate your advice. My 20 gal fuel tank takes up the area to work in. It`s a very slow seep but I want to halt that seepage. Again, Thanks