Bill,
We had a 28.5 since new in 86 and did a repair and re-build on the rudder quadrant support.
First open the 'ceiling' access panel in the quarter berth and reach back and grab the quadrant with both hands and see how much it moved side to side and front to back.
If you see more than say 1/4" play, remove the quadrant and cables but leave the thru bolt holding the Delrin spacer to the rudder. Check to see how the lower Delrin spacer is fastened to the plywood support shelf below it. Typically this is where the problem started with too few or too small fasteners which have now elongated the holes thru the plywood. Assuming this is the case, you need to remove both Delrin spacers; however the top spacer is thru bolted to the rudder shaft.... theoretically the rudder won't drop out and sink as it is foam cored...however, I tied a line thru the top of the rudder post thru an upper bolt hole...run up and out the access opening above the rudder post into the cockpit. You should be able to slide the Delrin spacers up..shove a bolt or screw driver into the now exposed lower bolt hole and you should be able to reinforce the plywood with layers of fiberglass cloth & resin. I placed the lower Delrin top bearing back on the shaft and rotated it 45 degrees so I could drill 4 clean 5/16" bolt holes for larger bolts backed up with fender washers and aircraft nuts. This will take the slop out of the upper bearing. You could go further and refurbish the lower end, but that means the boat has to be out of the water and that's a longer story. By the way, check the Hunter Twenty Eight Owners / projects and you'll probably find that this has come up before.
