Rudder Play

[Billy the Kidd]

Our vintage 1978 Catalina 30' is showing signs of excess wear in the rudder shaft -- vibrates aggressively at certain speeds -- looks like a plastic insert tube supporting the shaft -- vibration is noted in the auxillary tiller attaching hardware. Any suggestions on tightening up the rudder?
Thanks, Billy the Kidd

 

[jrowan]

Some sailors have insert shims made from mylar plastic sheets cut to fit the inner diameter of the rudder tube to help fill the gap from wear between the rudder tube & rudder stock. But this wear occurs naturally & mine does it too at certain angles to the wind. The rudder tube is just standard PVC plastic pipe in the early models. Here's a pic of a cut out stern the shows how it is plumbed. I love this pic cause it reveals the shoddy workmanship that went into early Catalinas. Its surprising how long these boats have lasted, given all those pipe band clamps & rubber tubing that will at some point rot away down there!