Rudder

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

Jsimkins

.
Jul 12, 2013
2
Catalina 42 mk 1 Blaine, Washington
I recently hauled boat and cleaned and painted bottom. Rudder has more play than is desirable. Rudder post is not in a bushing or sleeve and is set in fiberglass only according to Catalina. They had no recommendations or after market fixes. Has anyone dealt with this issue . Boat is 1989 vintage.
Thanks John
 
O

Old Skool Neil

.
Jan 22, 2008
880
Fed up w/ personal attacks I'm done with SBO
Gougeon Brothers (WEST System) has a pour-in-place remedy that Catalina endorses. Maybe endorses is too strong a word.

I'd caution against the temptation to try it. I'm currently in an email conversation with a Catalina 30 owner who tried it and at this time his rudder is glued solidly in place. We're working on a strategy to free it up. In his case the cure is worse than the disease.
 
Meriachee

Meriachee

.
Aug 1, 2011
3,972
Catalina 270 255 Wabamun. Welcome to the marina
Old Skool Neil said:
Gougeon Brothers (WEST System) has a pour-in-place remedy that Catalina endorses. Maybe endorses is too strong a word.

I'd caution against the temptation to try it. I'm currently in an email conversation with a Catalina 30 owner who tried it and at this time his rudder is glued solidly in place. We're working on a strategy to free it up. In his case the cure is worse than the disease.
Click to expand
CD has a kit for fixing that. The instructions clearly state that the rudder post has to be coated with the wax substance that comes with the kit. It sounds like the c30 person didn't coat the rudder post sufficiently to prevent the epoxy from doing what it does best - sticking stuff together.

I have some industrial mold release that I have used when making small parts from epoxy molds and I intend to coat the rudder stock with that (liberally) next winter when I use the kit on mine. It would be an absolutely ugly job to get he post out after it got stuck.

Cheers
Gary
 
O

Old Skool Neil

.
Jan 22, 2008
880
Fed up w/ personal attacks I'm done with SBO
This guy is on the other side of the country so I cannot speak to what went wrong, I wasn't there. He did say he used a release agent but exactly what it was or how applied I can't say.

The current strategy is to fashion a tool to apply significant torque to the rudder shaft in a back and forth motion and hopefully get it moving.
 
jrowan

jrowan

.
Mar 5, 2011
1,294
O'Day 35 Severn River, Mobjack Bay, Va.
Ouch. That does sound like his cure was worse then the disease.
If I ever do this, I will apply wax liberally. Or just live with the slack in it
till I can't stand it anymore. I only hear a lil creak going down wind in a slog.
I have heard of applying mylar type sheets into the rudder stock to fill the gap from wear
between the rudder tube & PVC stock pipe.
 
Meriachee

Meriachee

.
Aug 1, 2011
3,972
Catalina 270 255 Wabamun. Welcome to the marina
Pouring a bunch of acetone down the shaft may help unstick it where there is a marginal bond. If there's a good bond, there is a chance of damaging the bearing mounts.
 
philwsailz

philwsailz

.
Dec 11, 2008
1,338
catalina C27 stillwater
Just gently run the boat aground and bend the rudder stock slightly.. No slop at all! :D

This is what happend to my boat with the previous owner. I have a new rudder to install.....
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top Bottom