Rudder friction on Bene 265

[hard-a-ground]

Hi all, I love my boat. But. I wish the tiller had better feel. It is very hard to move the tiller on this boat compared to other boats I have driven.

WinDancer is a Beneteau 265. 1992.
Anyone have ideas for how to reduce the friction in rudder movement?
She is on the trailer currently so I can do about anything.

cheers,
Frank and WinDancer from Cincy.

 

[hard-a-ground]

so i dropped the rudder tonight... it looks like i need to clean the mating surfaces and find a lubricant of some kind. aluminum rubbing against plastic. hmmm... wax? graphite? probably not oil. more research needed.

 

[Philip_Oceanis 361]

When I dropped the rudder of my Ben361, I used marine grease for the upper bearing. But that's a kind of nylon bearing rubbing against the fiberglass rudder shaft. If what you are referring is above the waterline then marine grease would probably be fine. If below waterline, usually you must not use anything since these are water lubricated.