Rudder Straightening

[Claude]

The post on my rudder spade is bent approximately 5 deg and I would like to straighten it. Has anyone done this that is willing to share his experience with me?

 

[Bob Kanzler]

Slow is better

Several years ago I bent a boat trailer. The member I bent was a rectangular piece of steel about 6” X 4”. I was able to straiten it with the following procedure.I attached a board 10” X 6” (which was the largest I had) to both sides of the bend. Then I inserted a car jack between the member and the board right at the bend. The next step was to raise the jack slowly until the bend straitened out. The jack was left in this position for several days, and then lowered to see what had changed. In my case about ½ the bend was removed. So I raised the jack again this time going past the strait position to put a little reverse bend in to the member. Again I left it for several days.I continued this process until the member was strait.Caution - go slowly; do not try to take the entire bend out in one step.Good Luck.Bob K

 

[Bob]

27 O'Day

Hi Claude,Used a manual press. Supported the rudder and shaft. Applied press to a steel collar over the shaft right at the top of the rudder (where it bent - caused by a minor soft grounding). The rudder was supported in a form.Don't recall any issues - concern was the strain on the fiberglass rudder - no problem.Good Luck,Bob