rudder post leak 1972 Pearson 390

[valjim]

I launched earlier today and saw water dribbling from somewhere neat the top of the rudder post.
I'm at home searching for guidance and I've learned a little about packing so I'm about to go back to the boat (on land) and see if there is still a trace of water to show where exactly the leak is.
Is there anyone who knows how the rudder post (inboard section) is assembled and what the source of the leak might be? and how to fix it?
Thanks for any help
Jim
Lor' Tundrin

 

[Stu Jackson]

Some boats will have packing glands at the top of the rudder shafts, may be something like this:

http://www.c34.org/faq-pages/techdata-rudder-packing-gland.html

Go down below and see what you have. There have also been reports of slight cracks in the tubes themselves, easily repairable with epoxy.