Where to get plastic for rudder pivot spacer/washer

[isaksp00]

My H23 has one plastic (or nylon?) spacer / washer between the rudder stock and the aluminum rudder bracket. It is about 1/16 inch thick and maybe 6 to 8 inches diameter. I assume there should be one on each side.

I could easily make another, but I don't have any ideas on what sort of plastic sheeting to buy, or where to get it - or for that matter, whether I can scavenge something suitable from everyday items.

Does anyone know what material works, and where you can buy it?

Thanks, Peter

 

[DJN51]

Try Home Depot.Just replaced spacer on my 23.5 with Lexan polycarbonate 8x 10 .093 $4.67.Cut it with reverse cut blade.Bought my boat from sailor on your lake 2 yrs ago.Nice area.

 

[inarathree]

When we sailed beach cats, we use to cut up plastic lids from coffee cans, and the such for spacers.

 

[MrUnix]

I've also heard of using coffee can tops. I'm in the process of rebuilding my rudder/tiller and will probably try them out myself. Until then, does anyone know what size pivot bolt is used and is there a bearing sleeve in the rudder that it fits through?

Cheers,
Brad

 

[isaksp00]

My one spacer seems to be made of nylon or something like that, which feels more slippery than the kind of plastic as on a coffee can lid - not sure if that makes a difference though.

I am not near my boat, so I don't know the size of the hinge bolt - I'd guess maybe 3/8 inch or 1/2 or so (seems larger than a 1/4). Whatever it is, the bolt just fits through the holes in the aluminum bracket, so if you have that, use it to measure and then drill the rudder appropriately.

The rudder has no sleeve - it just goes through a hole in the glass outer layers and the foam core. Adding some kind of metal or maybe epoxy sleeve would not be a bad idea. One approach might be to drill out a larger hole through the rudder (say, 1.25 inch) and then fill with liquid epoxy and then drill through that. It'd be more solid than the foam core, though not as strong as something like a brass sleeve.

 

[BrianW]

You can buy nylon washers at any of the "big box" home improvement stores. BrianW

 

[inarathree]

One approach might be to drill out a larger hole through the rudder (say, 1.25 inch) and then fill with liquid epoxy and then drill through that. It'd be more solid than the foam core, though not as strong as something like a brass sleeve.

You could drill a larger hole, and then epoxy in a bronze bushing. Brass is soft and prone to corrosion.

 

[DJN51]

Used a bronze flanged sleeve bearing when I replaced alum tiller to wood,that way bolt pivots on bushing ,not wood. Try Fastenal.com

 

[gary]

Rudder Washers

On my Hunter 22 - which I am sure is similar to your boat - I used the clear plastic "CD's" which come in the packages of new CD's. This was two years ago and they are still working fine.

 

[RLW]

My rudder had a 3/8" bolt and a plastic bushing. The hole in the aluminum bracket that holds the rudder was oval from the wave action when the PO left the boat in the water for about a year and the plastic bushing was also worn out. I replaced the bushing with a new nylon one that was 1" o.d. and 1/2" i.d. I epoxied the bushing in the rudder and drilled the bracket to use a 1/2" bolt. The new washers for the sides of the rudder I made from a acrylic sheet that I bought from Home Depot. The PO had washers made from coffee can lids, but they were too thin.