Repaired my '80 33 rudder and post last year
Last year after a grounding and a pull off which caused a leak in the rudder post housing and bent the steel rudder post, I had the rudder post and rudder repaired by a firm in Tarpon Springs. It may be a bit far from Vero Beach, but if you are interested I can get the name a phone number for you. They replaced the post as once it is bent it is weakened. I have a shoal draft which means the rudder is about as deep as the keel. To avoid future problems I had 7" cut off the bottom and had the shop add 7" to the rudder's back edge. The result is very good; steering force has been increased and the keel now protects the rudder from being hit. I would recommend the change if you have a shoal draft.