Smoothing out a stiff rudder

[Clint Chase]

In the Fall, I removed the rudder from my Tartan 30 because it was very stiff and I thought it could be smoother. I thought the stiffness was coming from friction in the rudder shoe which holds up the rudder shaft and is bolted the the skeg. As I was pulling out the rudder it did not get smoother, telling me that the friction appears to be originating between the shaft and the rudder tube itself. This tube goes up the the cockpit where a brass bracket bolts over it and the tiller bolts to the brass bracket. That is it. Any thoughts on how to smooth out the action? I thought of degreasing the tube that the shaft sits in and degreasing the shaft itself, then regreasing with a high quality grease and reinstalling. Any thoughts?

Lastly, I need a local place that can redrill the bolt holes through the shaft, bracket, and tiller to eliminate play.

Cheers,
Clint

[Tim]

What sort of bearings, if any, are there in your rudder system? Older boats tend to either have no bearings, or some system that, over time, wears away and becomes stiffer.

If you want to upgrade, new ball bearing rudder bearings are available from a number of companies, and would be slick.

Another possibility is that your rudderpost is slightly bent. Can you confirm or refute this by looking at it? Or the build tolerance in the first place was off, so the rudder may never have lined up perfectly.

Grease may have a temporary effect, but probably the real fix will require something else.

[tartan30cirrus]

I have no bearings...I believe the rudder shaft is seated in the brass/bronze shoe on something...a delrin like material (I hope); probably not...but since the friction seems to come from shaft...

Who could check the allignment of the shaft? Could such a sight misalignment be detected/fized? I can't see anything.

Also, Who is the best person around to align the rudder, tiller bracket shoe, and tiller and redrill the holes one size larger to eliminate play due to wear?

Thanks!

[Tim]

Also, Who is the best person around to align the rudder, tiller bracket shoe, and tiller and redrill the holes one size larger to eliminate play due to wear?

You!

Who could check the alignment of the shaft? Could such a sight misalignment be detected/fized? I can't see anything.

By carefully observing (through sight, sound, and feel) the action of the rudder from all possible locations--cockpit, outside the boat, etc.--you should be able to determine if the shaft is basically straight, or if there is a friction point somewhere.

Slight misalignments are common. What you're trying to eliminate is the possibility of a more significant bend in your rudderpost that might truly be binding.

I don't know enough about the exact T/30 rudder setup to offer much more blind advice; these are general things to look for, however.

[tartan30cirrus]

Also, Who is the best person around to align the rudder, tiller bracket shoe, and tiller and redrill the holes one size larger to eliminate play due to wear?

You!

you are right...i just need a honkin' drill and a big vice.

By carefully observing (through sight, sound, and feel) the action of the rudder from all possible locations--cockpit, outside the boat, etc.--you should be able to determine if the shaft is basically straight, or if there is a friction point somewhere.

Slight misalignments are common. What you're trying to eliminate is the possibility of a more significant bend in your rudderpost that might truly be binding.

I don't know enough about the exact T/30 rudder setup to offer much more blind advice; these are general things to look for, however.

thank you for the useful help!