So I believe we have a plan. After discussions with other C&C owners whose rudderpost arrangement is similar the culprit is the stainless plate bolted to the cockpit floor. It has a bronze bushing through which the rudder post passes. That plays a significant role in keeping the shaft in alignment. Over time it wears and enlarges, allowing the top of the shaft to move. The fix is to support the rudder while on the hard, remove the donut nut, then remove the plate which may entail lots of boat yoga under the deck as the nuts are extremely close to the steering quadrant. Take the plate to a machine shop and have them remove the old bearing and press in a new bronze / oil bushing with ID closely matching shaft OD. Reverse the process to install.
It was suggested to cut an access hole and install an inspection plate in the vertical face behind the helm seat to improve access to the steering system. Any words of wisdom from the group? John Read Legacy III 1982 C&C 34 Noank, CT From: Joel Delamirande [mailto:joel.delamira...@gmail.com] Sent: Saturday, November 20, 2021 6:16 PM To: Stus-List Cc: John Read Subject: Re: Stus-List Rudder shaft play This should be interesting I have to do mine On a 30 mk1 if anyone have experience On Sat, Nov 20, 2021 at 6:09 PM John Read via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: After 40 years the rudder now has a bit of play laterally and fore and aft. Bottom of rudder can be moved less than an inch in all directions. Not bad but should be addressed. This also is most likely causing the leak through the shaft where it penetrates the deck fitting causing the donut to be not true to the stainless plate on the cockpit floor. The design is very simple – shaft rides inside tube (with grease) that is glassed into hull, shaft is open from top of tube to bottom of cockpit floor to allow steering quadrant , shaft goes through hole in cockpit floor, through stainless bearing plate on top of cockpit floor, through delrin washer, then shaft is threaded and donut installed that rides on delrin washer. My initial thought is to machine a delrin bearing and washer that would fill the small gap between the shaft and hole in the bearing plate / cockpit floor but wanted to inquire if anyone else has had similar issues or thoughts John Read Legacy III 1982 C&C 34 Noank, CT Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu -- Joel Delamirande Image removed by sender. www.jdroofing.ca
Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
