Rudder bearing (or packing gland?) bolt tightness

[max_sailing]

Hi Folks,

I recently noticed that these bolts, which I assume are holding a race on the rudder bearing, are all pretty loose. They are finger tight, at best. I may not be using the right words because I can’t find any posts about them. Should I tighten them? If so how much?

thanks,

max

 

[kloudie1]

Looks like a packing gland. I am not familiar with that boat but It looks like the top part pushes into the bottom part to compress some packing which keeps water from traveling up the rudder shaft and into the boat.. It probably should be a little tighter than finger tight but not much .. all 4 should be the same tightness..

 

[max_sailing]

Thanks @kloudie1. Focusing my search on packing gland instead of bearing I found a lot more info, including this diagram from a Catalina 42 MKII which apparently has a very similar setup.

The nuts on mine are standard non-locking, whereas the diagram calls for nylon nuts (I assume they mean nylon lock nuts). I’m going to upgrade to those and gently snug it up.

 

[SteveKrabi]

If it is a packing gland then there should be a gap under the flange ! If it is they should be studs with nuts on !

 

[Tom J]

It is a seal for the rudder post, not a bearing as such, and not a traditional packing gland I believe. IIRRC, it is a tapered teflon collar that is forced onto the rudder post as you tight the flange bolts. If it isn't leaking, there isn't a problem, but I would tighten them to just beyond finger tight. Interestingly, I once noticed a bit of play in the rudder from side to side when I was painting the bottom. I checked the rudder seal bolts and they weren't very tight, so I snugged them up. The play in the rudder was gone, for what that is worth.

 

[john2]

some extra info on the rudder bearrings . the packing bolts are to be tightened just no water leaks at full speed (motoring).
over tightening makes the steering feel heavy.
I overhauld the bearrings after 3 years of very heavy steering issues. (ever since we got the boat.)
i made an extra support bearing at the top because it had a lot of play . that made the steering a little better.
This winter i took the rudder and bushings out. What a mess.....
top bushing is a sfeerical type (self anigning) the ball was loose in the cup. lowering the cup rings fixed that.
The lower bushing had no play at all. (i thought) Wrong ! It was so miss- aligned that the play couldnt be feld. This caused the heavy steering. At Jefa rudder bearrings i found some good ideas and made rollers in the old bushings.
Now it steers like race boat.