Tiller pads between rudder plates

[Jim Bellesbach]

My Rudder has squeeze plates that hold the rudder in place (up/down). My problem is with the tiller pads inside the plates (They need to be replaced). Can I make them myself or is there a vendor that I could order them from. Also, should I be able to pull the rudder down from the cockpit and secure it without the squeeze plates? Is there a good source for Hunter parts? I have searched forever and cannot find one. Thanks, Jim

 

[Mike B.]

Hunter Parts

Contact Hunter direct at the following and request the part needed. They will ship it to you direct and accept credit card orders.Hunter Marine CorporationRoute 441, Post Office Box 1030Alachua, Florida USA 32616Phone: 386-462-3077Fax: 386-462-4077Sales related questionse-mail: info@huntermarine.comCustomer Servicee-mail: customerservice@huntermarine.com(8am to 5pm EST)1-800-771-5556

 

[alan]

Try that but, the last time I asked...

...they said the company that made the rudders was out of business and they had no parts. I was told that the rubber is engine gasket material. alan

 

[Rick Webb]

Check the Archives

Someone who managed an ACE Harware store said they stocked a similar material and it worked on his boat.

 

[Paul H]

Rubber Gaskets

Jim, I replaced mine last year. Got them from Hunter. If the old ones are not in too bad a shape use them as a template and get yourself a sheet of 1/8 or 3/16 rubber and cut it out yourself. I forgot what Hunter charged but they weren't cheap. They made a big difference in my rudder not floating up. Paul HS/V Linda Belle95 H26

 

[Robert Avent]

Just Did This

Just went through the same thing. Hunter advised me to use 1/8" gasket material (found it cheapest at an industrial rubber goods company) Used West Marine marine contact cement. Also sanded and refinished the metal plates, epoxied and painted the rudder (white bottom paint), replaced the rudder uphaul, and replaced the aluminum tiller with a new wooden one from Idasailor (these are good folks to deal with) and polished and waxed the hull area behind the rudder assembly. (I just don't know when to stop.)

 

[Jonathan Costello]

No problems with rudder popping up

I've read in past forums about people having problems with their 23.5 rudder not staying down and making devises such as sown hauls to keep them down and have often thought, "I'm glad I don't have that problem because mine has these neat rubber pads on each side that really grip the rudder and keep it down." If some rudders are slightly thinner where they sit in the mount brackets then couldn't this cause the rudder to pop up because the mount cannot be tightened down enough? What if someone with this problem used a slightly thicker piece of rubber or just replace the old rubber then shouldn't this fix the problem? I am not familiar with the 240, 26 and 260 so maybe they are configured different and do not have the same rudder mount. just trying to gain some insight.