What is this rudder part?

[Ken Palmer]

While painting the bottom of my Hunter 33.5 today, I noticed that there is a synthetic material spacer, about 1/8" thick, around the rudder post above the rudder body and before the post enters the hole into the boat. My problem is that this spacer is broken in half with nothing to hold the other half on.What is the purpose of this huge washer (I call it a spacer)? My thought is that since a rudder is filled with foam, it is buoyant. The spacer keeps the top of the rudder body from coming in contact with the bottom of the boat. However, you would think that somehow the rudder post is held in place where it mates with the pulley wheel used for the steering cable. I would hate to think of having to drop my rudder to replace this spacer.Any help would be appreciated. I'll try to get a picture tomorrow if that will help.

 

[Paul Akers]

I have two...

"spacers" on my rudder. I really can't tell what purpose they serve, but other boats have them also. Maybe they are a friction guard, or somenting. Althought my boat's rudder doesn't have any vertical (or horizontal) movement in it that would require them.

 

[Terry Cox]

Hi Ken, I could be wrong on this but they likely..

are part of the lower rudder post bearing which, according to Hunter, are made from UHMW material (nylon like I suspect). They can tell you for sure.Does either half of this spacer come out? If it were my boat I would haul, drop the rudder and replace it. Lowering the rudder while on the hard is a non-event. Some even hire a diver to do it while in the water. On our H28 there was a bolt that locked the rudder post to the steering quadrant. You can remove that bolt, and drop the rudder and post as an integrated unit. Talk to Hunter Marine Customer Service about your situation and any recommendations they have. A very helpful group of people.Terry

 

[Paul Akers]

Ken, if you are on the Hard...

...and want to lower the rudder, you may have to dig out a bit under the keel to lower the rudder. Just be sure that it's only gravel and not hardtop that you plan to dig into. Actually, it not a hard job once you remove the large SS screw/nut at the top of the rudder stock that attaches the rudder to the quadrant. And...if it's like my Hunter, it's heavier than it looks or what you may think. Be prepared!

 

[John T1594]

Home made friction gasket

My previous boat was a 1980 H30. It had a skeg hung rudder that was buoyant enough to rise and grind somewhat against the underside of the hull at the rudder post. There was no gasket and about a 1/2" or less space when the boat was in the yard and the rudder not floating. I didn't think this was good so I made up two friction gaskets from the lids of plastic buckets (#2 white plastic). On my boat, the gasket was 4.5" wide and had a hole with an ID of 2.5" to just fit around the rudder post. To install the gaskets, I made a radial cut on one side of each gasket and was able to spread and bend the gasket so it slipped into the space and "snap" into place around the rudder post. Every year I would smear a little waterproof grease under, over and between the gaskets. The gaskets made the steering a little smoother. This was just an experiment but these home made gaskets lasted beyond seven years and were still intact and on the boat when I sold it in 2004.

 

[Ken Palmer]

My finding from yesterday

I called Hunter Marine as Terry suggested. They call the part a "rudder shim". It is used to prevent the rudder from coming in contact with the hull. This may happen under certain conditions while heeled, and since the core of the rudder is foam it will try to float. Hunter Parts Department doesn't stock this part, and would have to have it made. I wonder how common this problem is, and why is the rudder post of my 1990 model 33.5 different from the current production? Since it has to be made, I decided to have a fellow yacht club member make one instead of Hunter. That being said, I visited the marina where Water Colors is stored. I will have them drop the rudder while the boat is in a sling before launch mid-May. I dropped the rudder on my old 1981 H33 and it wasn't an easy task. I had to dig a hole in the gravel lot because of the rudder length. Paul is right, the rudder is heavy.Now I can get back to the normal spring routine of painting and waxing (or Poliglow in my case). Thanks to all for your comments.

 

[Terry Cox]

Hi Ken, I've had Hunter Marine make parts for ...

me before and they were very reasonable. The aft part of our bow roller has an upper and lower nylon roller anchor rode guide. The lower one was worn out and finally broke. As I recall Hunter Marine made one for me that cost $15. Was not able to find anything off the shelf. Terry

 

[Ken Palmer]

The price of a rudder shim from Hunter

The shim is on its' way and should be in Rochester Thursday. The price for Hunter to manufacture the part is $30 plus shipping.My only question now: is there a stuffing box for the rudder on the 33.5? We believe that it is enclosed by fiberglass up to the deck, therefore not needing a stuffing box. The rudder will be dropped while in the sling, and anything I can do beforehand to expedite the process would be helpful to my wallet. Any ideas out there?

 

[Terry Cox]

Hi Ken, if I were in your neck of the woods...

I would be happy to come over and help. Other posters mentioned how heavy the rudder was, so a couple of good hands would certainly come in handy. Perhaps the travel lift driver can lower the boat until the rudder just touches the ground before you release any pins or bolts that hold the rudder in place. Then raise the boat until the rudder post is free from the tube so that you can replace the washer.I'm just thinking out loud here, not being familiar with your model, a good mallet might come in handy to break loose the post from the quadrant once you remove the pin/bolt. Hunter advised me to use a piece of one by two or similar sized piece of wood as a driver pin that was large and long enough to cover the post but fit through the quadrant.Terry

 

[Ken Palmer]

Thanks Terry

However, I'm going to spend the big bucks an will have the marina crew do this job. Let's see, at $75 per hour, I wonder how fast they will work. :{