On our H41DS, I recently had removed the floor panel immediately behind the helm station in order to clean the area below it and to run a new wire from the helm station to the nav station. I noticed when I peered down into the rudder post I could see water, the level of which I surmise is the same as the waterline outside the boat. I suspect that either there is no seal around the rudder post where it exits the hull or if there is one it has failed thus allowing water ingress.
I can see from inside the stern locker that there is a fiberglass "pipe" that runs from the inner hull up to the sub-floor below the helm station, essentially forming a sealed tube through which the rudder post passes. I can understand how this design might eliminate the need for a rudder post seal but I'd like to get some confirmation as to the design of the rudder post structure on this boat. Further, any information on the dimensions and material of the rudder post bearings would be helpful for the future.
I can see from inside the stern locker that there is a fiberglass "pipe" that runs from the inner hull up to the sub-floor below the helm station, essentially forming a sealed tube through which the rudder post passes. I can understand how this design might eliminate the need for a rudder post seal but I'd like to get some confirmation as to the design of the rudder post structure on this boat. Further, any information on the dimensions and material of the rudder post bearings would be helpful for the future.
