RUDDER BEARINGS FOR 37 CUTTER

[ROGER]

The rudder on my 1980 37' cutter has a lot of vertical slop. Does anyone have a diagram or information about the original design of the collars or bearing surfaces?

 

[Ed Schenck]

Check this.

Other owners have mentioned this problem. My own 1979 does not have the problem and I am not sure why. See the Related Link for the best fix for that problem. Basically just replicate the top collar underneath the bearing surface.My own fix would be to double up on the rudder support first. I.E., use 3/4" marine plywood on the two vertical and one horizontal with lots of West System epoxy. Then build a collar for underneath.

 

[Edward Kennedy]

Vertical slop fix

My 37 cutter also had a lot of vertical slop. If you look at the top of the rudder post, there is a collar resting on a plastic block that is screwed to a structural shelf. I added a second plastic block under that shelf, then bought a propeller shaft zinc the same size as the rudder shaft, and clamped it under the new plastic block to limit vertical play. The zinc acts like a thrust collar to limit the play. I have not had any problems with ti slipping down the shaft.