rudder alignment

[fredle]

I bought my 1987 Catalina 30 MKII tall rig in the Fall of 2002 and had the rudder replaced by the yard before launching. She sailed well all last season but as I was preparing her for launch this year I noticed a vertical crack in the gel coat and fiberglass along the post. I dug out the broken material, filled the cavity with latex expandable foam and put on two layers of fiberglass. Gel coat is next.On close inspection I have determined that the rudder was scraping the hull on one side and that the rudder "stop" doesn't stop the movement before it makes contact.It looks to me as though it was installed without the rudder being dead center. On inspection from the cockpit, the new rudder post is filled with foam. Does anyone know if the bolt that goes through the post fits in a slot or a hole is drilled in the post upon installation? I don't really want to get into removing and re-attaching cables.Any other ideas for re-alignment?

 

[Allen]

I did this upgrade...

Fredle,I replaced my rudder a few year's back. I got mine from Catalina and the rudder stock had no holes in it for any attaching hardware. It was up to me to align the rudder & drill the appropriate holes for the steering quadrant & the rudder post cap that's in the cockpit.It sounds like you think your rudder was not centered and it's causing the rudder stops to not work properly. If that's the case, you're better off modifying the rudder stops instead of trying to re-install the rudder with it centered. My rudder stop is simply a 1" rubber covered piece of metal that's attached to the top of the steering quadrant. It's designed to hit the bulkhead in the quarterberth to prevent over-steerage.I'd suggest adding some rubber or perhaps a piece of teak covered with a piece of rubber to the bulkhead to make it so your rudder doesn't hit the hull. That's probably your easiest fix. As for aligning your wheel (if you have wheel steering) it's pretty easy to adjust the cables so that your wheel is centered. If your yard goofed, perhaps they'd be willing to do this simple repair for free.I hope this helps,Allen Schweitzers/v FalstaffC-30 Hull# 632

 

[fredle]

Steering quadrant-- "Top vs Bottom"

Allen:Thanks for the reply. You hit the nail on the head. I had thought of just adding a piece of material to the bulkhead but thought there muight be a better way. The stop is installed downward from the quadrant and it strikes the bulkhead under the quadrant. This would definitely be a job done by feel only. Does it sound like the stop is also installed incorrectly?Unfortunately the yard where I purchased the boat is 12 hours away, otherwise...Thanks for your help.Fred

 

[John12236]

1988 C30ruder ADJ

The 1988 has a floor hatch on the floor behind the wheel in the cockpit you remove the 4 screws and pop the hatch and there is a cable with a threded end and two nuts adj untill rudder is lined up. Bump stop is two ruber hoses 1" long on small post that hits rudder box sides( nothing fancy) JohnOlson