[C38] rudder post leak. My experience

David Stoltz sportscinema at earthlink.net
Mon Nov 17 23:45:33 EST 2014 

Hi Mike,
Well, finally finished replacing the rudder post packing and happy to say...no leaks.
 
Here are some things I would suggest before you start the project:
 
-Buy a 14mm ratcheting wrench
-Get the 3/8ths GTU shaft packing, which should be available at WM. A little more expensive, but worth it.
-You also want the Syntef shaft packing lube.
-Buy a small (approximately 20 x 30) bathroom mat. I found one that is thin memory foam at Ross for about $12 that worked out great.
-Get a thick, strong rubber band to hold up the top plate that will be free floating when you remove the the 3 bolts
-Have a new single edge razor blade to cut the new packing (cut on a 45 degree angle).
-Get a small roller with a handle in case you need to roll the packing a little to start it in the recessed area before tightening the 3 bolts.
-Have acetone, a clean thin rag and 220 black sandpaper to clean the recessed area before putting in the new packing.
 
You should also download the maintenance checklist from the Edson website. They recommend a complete check of everything every 10 years and every 5 years for boats in the tropics. This is the perfect time to do it being that you are already in there. If you use the above mentioned packing and lube and it's installed correctly, you will never need to replace it.  It will outlast the boat. One other suggestion, don't be afraid to moderately tighten down the 3 bolts, it will help to seat the new packing.
 
I would say the trickiest part of the job for me was cutting the new packing to exactly the correct length, which is critical. I bought an inexpensive packing to practice with and then cut the GTU.
 
Good luck.
 
Best,
David
Andiamo #297
 


 


On Aug 28, 2014, at 10:16 AM, Michael Norcross wrote:

> David, I too need to tackle this leak/stream so am eager to see your progress. I did hear 5/16 a few pages back, but that is closer than 3/8. Does it matter on the brand of cord? My hull is #318 so it's probably exactly what you are dealing with. Good luck.
> 
> Mike
> Escape - Annapolis
> 
> On Aug 28, 2014, at 12:41 PM, David Stoltz <sportscinema at earthlink.net> wrote:
> 
>> 
>> Thank you Don and Max.
>> 
>> Don, thanks for taking the time to clearly explain and for your implement suggestion.
>> 
>> Max, thanks for your input as well. I'll try 1/4", but I was told by Kent (a one time Catalina employee) that it was 3/8"s, however it does seem a little thick.
>> 
>> Hope you both have a great weekend.
>> 
>> Best,
>> David
>> 
>> 
>> On Aug 27, 2014, at 6:56 PM, Donald Strong wrote:
>> 
>>> David:
>>> I failed twice at getting the packing right. Do not compress, twist or roll the packing material.
>>> 1. Cut the ends at an angle so the material is the exact length, which you can get by coiling the packing strip around the rudder post and cutting diagonally with a razor blade.
>>> 2. Make 3 strips as per 1 above.
>>> 3. Make an implement out of a tube with the exact interior diameter of the rudder post. Thickness of this device should be just shy of the width of the packing material and the interior diameter of the gland. Implement should be a couple of inches long
>>> Cut this implement longitudinally into two halves. I used a thin pvc pipe, I think (or  brass tube that I found in the dumpster on the dock)?
>>> 4. Wrap the first exactly cut length of packing material around the rudder post. Make sure the ends match perfectly. Ease it down as far as you can get it with your fingers. put some grease on the rudder post so the material will slide.
>>> Place the implement around the rudder post above the packing material. Tape the halves of the implement together. 
>>> 5. Tap gently around the top edge of the implement until the packing material disappears into the gland.
>>> 6. Repeat with the other two, offsetting the cut by 120 degrees.
>>> 
>>> My success has been dry for 6 years.
>>> 
>>> Good luck, Don  
>>> 
>>> n 8/27/14 6:35 PM, David Stoltz wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Hopefully this is are the last question I will ever have about the rudder post packing gland because this job is a BITCH...
>>>> 
>>>> Any suggestions on fitting the new packing into to the recessed ares of the gland? 
>>>> 
>>>> It's 3/8" and a very tight fit. I was thinking about rolling it slightly to make it a bit thinner. Good or bad idea???
>>>> 
>>>> Thanks very much.
>>>> 
>>>> On Aug 25, 2014, at 7:34 AM, Steve Smolinske wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> Peregrine is in the yard having the rudder packing gland deglassed to the tube.   Noticed last time out that the packing gland rotated when the wheel was turned.                 Also bilge pump was going off every twenty minutes.  
>>>>> 
>>>>> Steve Smolinske
>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>> 206 972 6297
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Aug 25, 2014, at 8:10 AM, "Michael Norcross" <manorcross at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>>  David's woes inspired me to peer into the cavern..yes, water coming in thru the rudder seal and at good clip under sail or motor.  Kicking myself, since I just hauled the boat to do a serious job on the  bottom (soda blast etc).  Below we go, water heater for sure is the first obstacle. 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Mike
>>>>>> On Aug 24, 2014, at 8:45 PM, David Stoltz wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Thanks Max.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On Aug 23, 2014, at 6:44 AM, "Malcolm (Max) Winter" <malcolmwmax at aol.com> wrote:
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> The rudder should be supported if you are going to remove the bolts supporting the Quadrant as well as the bolt at the post attachment to the rudder. It would drop through if not supported.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Max
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> ---- Original Message ----
>>>>>>>> From: David Stoltz <sportscinema at earthlink.net>
>>>>>>>> To: Catalina 38 Listserve <listserve at catalina38.org>
>>>>>>>> Sent: Fri, Aug 22, 2014 6:06 pm
>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [C38] steering post leak
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Hi Mark,
>>>>>>>> Thanks for getting back to me. Does the boat have to be hauled, or can I do it with the boat in the water? Will the rudder drop if I remove the 3 nuts at the top
>>>>>>>> of the rudder post?
>>>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>>> David
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> On Aug 19, 2014, at 4:36 PM, Mixed Business wrote:
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> The only way to access the the quadrant and post and cables is through the quarter berth access. Get all the ratchet extensions you have and a breaker bar to get the quadrant loose. Seriously like All the extensions you have. One guy working in the quarter berth on his stomach and another in the sail locker in the engine access. 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Too me and two others 4 hours to break it all loose... UNdo the cables and drop the rudder. 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Have fun. 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Mark
>>>>>>>>> Momentous 230
>>>>>>>>> Balt. 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> On Aug 17, 2014, at 2:06 PM, David Stoltz <sportscinema at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> Hi Steve,
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> I finally got around to dealing with the rudder post this weekend and discovered that there does not seem to be a way to access it, except from below deck.
>>>>>>>>>> I removed the floor form the rear lazaret thinking I could get to it that way...wrong (see photo). Also checked under the both cockpit benches for possible
>>>>>>>>>> access. Any suggestions?
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> Also, when I removed the rear lazaret floorboard I discovered a copper strip (see photo) that did not seem to connect to anything on either end, but that could be because of corrosion. Is this something that needs to be replaced and if so, does it connect to anything?
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> Thanks very much.
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> Best,
>>>>>>>>>> David
>>>>>>>>>> <photo 1.JPG>
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> On Jul 27, 2014, at 7:04 PM, S Orton wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> David,  First look at the top of the gland and see if the gland can be tighten- should be 3 nuts.  If the gland is bottomed out, just add another ring of packing- 5/16" I believe.  This is the hard part, as you have to completely back off the three nuts (or bolts?) pry up the gland  cap, and put in another ring of packing into the stuffing box, and 
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David Stoltz
Executive Producer
310.785.9100




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