White Plastic Rudder Bearing Surface on a 1981 H-33 Cherubini

[Bob Pullen HC-33 1981]

We are going to replace the rudder on our 1981 H-33 Cherubini (any suggestions other than Foss Foam???), and thought we'd also replace the little altar looking unit it goes through, where it enters the boat stern through the rudder tube (see picture).
It seems to me like the white plastic material (very rust colored in the picture) that is affixed to the top of this "altar" is the load bearing surface. Anyone know what it is made from and how to find a replacement?
We are going to have the new "altar" made from s/steel...any advice or suggestions?
Many thanks as always for all the fantastic advice and ideas suggested on this site. They have been very instrumental as we learn the ways of our H-33, Seanorita.
Bob Pullen

 

[Bob Pullen HC-33 1981]

picture attached

here goes

 

[Bob Pullen HC-33 1981]

picture

picture attached

 

[Brian M H23]

Delrin

Oftentimes these bearings are made from a plastic known as Delrin. You would have an insert machined and pressed into your rudder stock housing

 

[Terry Cox]

Hi Bob, Hunter Marine Customer Service can confirm...

the material and replacement procedure for your model boat. They provided me with the information for our boat model referenced in the below link. I suspect they would be very similar.

Terry

 

[Bob Pullen HC-33 1981]

testing photo

test

 

[Ken Palmer]

I called Hunter

I have a 1990 H33.5 and lost the rudder bearing that mounts on the post between the rudder and the bottom of the hull. Hunter had drawings and built one for me, and at a reasonable price too. You will need exact boat information, year, mode, serial number and diameter of the post. I was very happy with their quick response.

 

[SamLust]

My 1983 hunter 33

does not have the "alter" that yours has. Very strange. Yours appears to be other than original. The rust on the steel alone makes the piece suspect. Mine has a 1 inch thick by about 5" by 5" square of white slippery plastic on top of the glassed in cross piece your alter sits on with a 1/4" thick piece of aluminum on top of that. The retaining collar presses against the aluminum plate and thus the white plastic "bearing". In 25 years the plastic shows no wear at all. The exact plastic doesn't make a lot of difference. High density polyethylene will do fine. If you can't locate it or similar, "Starboard" should do OK.

I am going to make 2 recommendations;

1- There is a "nut" at the top of the stainless rudder tube. It is actually a compression nut on a packing to keep water out. The contractor who made it for Hunter used the wrong steel alloy and yours is more than likely rusted away. Hunter burnt the drawings and can give you no help on a replacement. I had one made for me by Buck-Algonquin, a company that makes lots of cast and machined hardware for the marine industry.

2- IF your 33 is SHOAL DRAFT. On the early shoal draft 33's the rudder was not changed from the deep draft version. The extra foot of rudder hanging down below the keel made itself well known during groundings. On later 33's hunter made the rudder shallower, but did nothing else to gain back the area lost to shortening up. The result is less than sharp steering. In all situations and all points of sail. I added about an inch too the trailing edge of mu rudder and I can feel it helped. Someone else (I can't remember who) added about 6inches and claims it works great. My suggestion is you have some area added to the trailing edge of the rudder if you have one made.

 

[Bob Pullen HC-33 1981]

Got some questions about your setup, Sam.

Sam, thanks for the very informative reply. It got me thinking and I was going to email you a couple questions about your setup, if that's ok.
thanks
Bob

 

[sandpiper10471]

Take me to the ............

I had a 79 H-33 a few years ago. It lacked the alter and instead the bearing was mounted on a strong piece of glass that spanned the width of the boat. Providing the bonding was good, this was a strong set-up and distributed the loads well.

Re stuffing box - my pressure gland too was "holy" and rather than having a new one machined, I covered it in kevlar and epoxy. This made it stronger than new and the problem was solved for as long as I owned the boat.

 

[SamLust]

Pictures posted:

I have posted pictures of the rudder support arrangement on my Hunter33 in a similar post of Bob's in the Cherubini Hunter Forum. Not much sense posting in both similar threads.