I need to replace strut bushing on a 90 Hunter 30. Do I need to drop the rudder before I pull the prop shaft?
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RE: Strut Bushing Removal
Hello Ken, It's a lot easier to drop the strut than it is to drop the rudder. There should be 4 thru bolts in the strut, remove the propeller and the strut will slide off the shaft. The cutlass bearing will probably need to be sawed out with a hack saw blade, and then the new one will need to be pressed in. Good Luck, Brent S/V Elena Lua 1990 Hunter 33.5
Hello Ken, It's a lot easier to drop the strut than it is to drop the rudder. There should be 4 thru bolts in the strut, remove the propeller and the strut will slide off the shaft. The cutlass bearing will probably need to be sawed out with a hack saw blade, and then the new one will need to be pressed in. Good Luck, Brent S/V Elena Lua 1990 Hunter 33.5
Possibly
The marina can remove the prop and the cutlass bearing without removing the strut. That is how mine was done.
The marina can remove the prop and the cutlass bearing without removing the strut. That is how mine was done.
Removing Strut Advantages:
There are three ways to do the job: 1) Remove the cutlass bearing in situ, 2) Remove the prop and strut, take strut to a work bench and remove cutlass bearing, and, 3) Remove rudder, prop shaft, then remove cutlass bearing. To do step 3 the rudder has to be removed which means (a) the boat has to be blocked up high enough to provide clearance to drop the rudder, (b), dig a hole deep enough to drop the rudder, or (c) pay for the yard to lift the boat while you drop the rudder and then again to install it. The last time I pulled the rudder on the hard was by having the boat blocked up high enough to give the necessary clearance; however, this made it much more difficult to sand and paint the bottom and wax the hull. Next time I'm going to remove the strut, enlarge the bolt holes, heat lamp them, and then epoxy seal them. Normally it's fairly easy to remove the strut but it depends on ease of access to the bolts, takes two people (one inside and out outside), and also depends on how tight the sealant is between the strut and the hull. Life is all about decisions and compromise and in this situation you are the lucky person to make the decision!
There are three ways to do the job: 1) Remove the cutlass bearing in situ, 2) Remove the prop and strut, take strut to a work bench and remove cutlass bearing, and, 3) Remove rudder, prop shaft, then remove cutlass bearing. To do step 3 the rudder has to be removed which means (a) the boat has to be blocked up high enough to provide clearance to drop the rudder, (b), dig a hole deep enough to drop the rudder, or (c) pay for the yard to lift the boat while you drop the rudder and then again to install it. The last time I pulled the rudder on the hard was by having the boat blocked up high enough to give the necessary clearance; however, this made it much more difficult to sand and paint the bottom and wax the hull. Next time I'm going to remove the strut, enlarge the bolt holes, heat lamp them, and then epoxy seal them. Normally it's fairly easy to remove the strut but it depends on ease of access to the bolts, takes two people (one inside and out outside), and also depends on how tight the sealant is between the strut and the hull. Life is all about decisions and compromise and in this situation you are the lucky person to make the decision!
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