Plastic shims in my rudder housing

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dennisp

dennisp

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Jun 13, 2004
60
Hunter 306 Bluewater Bay Marina (Niceville, FL)
New (old) Hunter (1993 23.5 bought recently) owner here with a question. Answer (or directions to previous forums (or archives) entry) appreciated. I have two white plastic shims, one on each side of the rudder aluminum frame at the top of the rudder assembly that are deteriorating and in need of replacement. I figure a 1/8 inch piece of teflon plastic material about 12 x 12 inches, cut in half, with appropriate holes for the bolts would work...but it's about $35-$40 plus postage for such a piece teflon. What was the original material? Optional materials possible? Suggestions? Thanks.
 
Rick Macdonald

Rick Macdonald

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Jun 2, 2004
649
Hunter 23.5 Calgary, Canada
Me too, so I called...

Mine need replacing as well, so I just called Mike in parts at Hunter. He said it's UHMW, a "Delrin-type" material. They can make a set for about $25. I called Laird Plastics, and the fellow told me that UHMW is very different from Delrin. UHMW is polyethylene vs acetal for Delrin. I'm going to assume that UHMW is what Hunter uses. I found on the web that both can be susceptable to UV. There are several UHMW formulations, including on for UV: http://www.lehighvalleyplastics.com/uhmw.htm UHMW is much cheaper than Teflon, but the first local supplier I called only sells a 4 FOOT by 10 FOOT sheet for US$130.00. I called another place in town here and can get it for US$3.00 per square foot. Yes! I just looked under Plastics in the Yellow Pages. Third call found it. ...RickM...
 
A

alan

Ah, um, well, I didn't know what the heck it...

...was and didn't feel like calling. Sooooooo, I used Lexan sheets when I rebuild the rudder system in my 26 this year. Guess I'll find out how well that works. I also used nylon washers to keep the stainless bolts off the aluminum. alan
 
M

mmsailor

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Sep 25, 1999
600
Hunter 23.5 Indian Lake
rudder washers

I asked a local rigger / boat mech about this a few years ago because mine needed replaced he walked over to his trash can and dug out a plastic lid from a coffee can , said that is what he recommended,I have seen people use old cds, I made mine out of a hard plastic mud flap from a truck, used a four inch hole saw and then drilled the center. These sailing vessles have been around for a long time and dont really need hi tech parts all the time . Good Luck , Mike Bacome
 
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