[C38] rudder stock/post seal leaking issues

[Charles Finn]

The fiberglass tube wear is a known problem that most of us have come to 
live with.  The wear also leads to more slop in the wheel and that is 
why I inserted mylar shims to take out the slop.  It was a big job as I 
had to dig a hole for the rudder while it was on the hard and work the 
shims in as I moved the rudder post up and down to get them in and 
seated.  It worked well and I have much less slop (it is not like having 
a bearing which is what should have been done, but I couldn't figure out 
how to install a bearing given the space and tube integrity with the 
hull.  I still have a leak as my stern stoops under acceleration and 
when on a tack...

Good luck!
Chuck Finn
Mighty Quinn  #114
Lake Superior

On 4/1/2021 2:25 PM, Max soto wrote:
> Yeah you’ll need 3/8” packing for the rudder, and still it won’t be a 
> warranty for no leaking. On Estancia, it just leaks less. There are no 
> bearings on these boats. Is a simple fiberglass tube glassed to the hull.
>
> Max Soto A.
> +506-8312-1367
> Alajuela, Costa Rica
>
>> On Apr 1, 2021, at 10:18, Marc-Andrea Klimaschewski 
>> <marcklim at outlook.com> wrote:
>>
>> 
>>
>> Hi Michelle,
>>
>> the Catalina 38 does not have a rudder bearing per se but a stuffing 
>> box. This is the Edson part: Rudder Post Stuffing Box 
>> (edsonmarine.com) 
>> <https://edsonmarine.com/products/sailboat-steering-wheels/steering-hardware/rudder-post-stuffing-box/>. 
>> The rudder stock diameter is 2.860” if I remember correctly.
>>
>> In order to address leaking you want to make sure that the stuffing 
>> box (bronze) is properly glassed into the hull. It most likely is, if 
>> not that’s something to address asap. You also want to open it up and 
>> replace the flax packing. I believe Edson recommends 3/8”. It’s a 
>> tricky job especially if you have the rudder quadrant / radial drive 
>> in the way but it can be done. Make sure you don’t strip the bolts 
>> and don’t lose them in the cavity by below the stuffing box (the mini 
>> skeg our boats have). You may have to do the packing two or three 
>> times to get it right but it’s worth it.
>>
>> Hope that helps
>>
>> Marc
>>
>> *From: *Michelle Diaz <mailto:diaz_michelle at yahoo.com>
>> *Sent: *Thursday, April 1, 2021 8:56 AM
>> *To: *listserve at catalina38.org <mailto:listserve at catalina38.org>
>> *Subject: *[C38] rudder stock/post seal leaking issues
>>
>> Ahoy folx,
>>
>> My old girl's original rudder post is leaking.  I tried searching 
>> through the newsletter archives about bearings and seals and didn't 
>> find much.
>>
>> Does anyone have intel on bearings, seals and parts to get this water 
>> ingress stopped?
>>
>> I found that PYI's sub-company Jefa has new rudder stock, blades, 
>> sleeves, bearings and shaft seals. Has anyone used these products?
>>
>> https://www.pyiinc.com/jefa-rudder/index.html 
>> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pyiinc.com%2Fjefa-rudder%2Findex.html&data=04%7C01%7C%7C25c5fac4635c4d87954608d8f526b959%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637528893967580965%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=2s2YFcRgJMfxkaGu3%2Bb%2BmwuZFVQkQehkSnkitbpr4Ak%3D&reserved=0>
>>
>> MD
>>
>> '81 S&S C38 Dulcinea #110
>>
>> Alameda, CA
>>
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