Rudder packing gland

[bob45]

Does anyone know what kind of of packing gland this is? (I know it’s not the best pic). It’s on an Islander 34-2 1985. I need to drop the rudder and was thinking of replacing while its out (at the very least I don’t want mess it up)

 

[heritage]

It looks to be the same type used on the early Hunters. It operates the same way as the cutlass bearing on the prop shaft works, except it uses three bolts to tighten and compress the wax gland. If you need to service the gland, remove the bolts and slide the bronze ring up the rudder shaft.

 

[bob45]

It looks to be the same type used on the early Hunters. It operates the same way as the cutlass bearing on the prop shaft works, except it uses three bolts to tighten and compress the wax gland. If you need to service the gland, remove the bolts and slide the bronze ring up the rudder shaft.

if that’s the case, can I drop the rudder without messing with it?