C26 - Rudder bearings and swing keel shoes

Windward · Post by **Windward** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 7:53 am

If anyone has either of these made, or finds a source, please drop me a note. IdaSailor is apparently no longer making the bearings, and I have no other source for those. I have dimensions for the bearings, but no useful info at all for the keel shoes.

Holiday · Post by **Holiday** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 1:01 pm

I have read about a method to make your own rudder bearings from one of the Gudgeon Brothers manuals. The bearings are formed by using proper mold release on the rudder shaft, then centering it in the rudder tube. Graphite filled epoxy is then injected in holes driled around the top and bottom of the rudder tube to form bearings.

It may be possible to glass in a lenght of schdule 40 pvc as a rudder tube on the Chysler 26. This could replace both bearings and the hose provided by the factory.

ronc98 · Post by **ronc98** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 6:57 pm

I think I still have the cnc program from when I made my rudder bearings. Let me see if I still have the material and I might be able to get you two. I used UHMW for mine.

Windward · Post by **Windward** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 3:47 am

Wow! If the bearings turn out to be doable, I'll gladly pay you for a set. I can muddle through with the ones I have, and will do some epoxy work to smooth and strenghten the boat's female bearing surface, but would love to have a proper set to minimize the slop in the system.

ronc98 · Post by **ronc98** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 6:33 am

I have the CNC I will go talk to my machine guy and see what material I have left. I added alot of epoxy to the female portion of my set because they were bady worn.

UHMW work for the bearings? That is what I used and is a bit stronger and is much more abrasion resistent.

R

NYCSAILOR · Post by **NYCSAILOR** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 9:09 am

anyone have an ez way to produce a better /ez spade rudder blade? Ihave a fixed rudder ( but it is the same I think w/o the rope contraption to pull her up

EricBerg · Post by **EricBerg** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 5:46 pm

I'm in for a set of keel shoes, will help with costs, etc.. I'm sure that mine have never been looked at, and they're flaking off something terrible. The previous owner had the boat's weight resting on the swing keel and pivot pin, and towed it all over the place like that, rather than on the fixed portion of the keel. One of these years I want to inspect the pin, and have a set of shoes/brackets on hand "just in case".
Eric.

ronc98 · Post by **ronc98** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 6:33 am

Windward,

I should have a set of bearings for you in the next few days.

Windward · Post by **Windward** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 3:50 am

That's fantastic! More thanks to you than I can convey. Drop me a note so I can get you $ for materials, shipping and the like.

There's some roughness in the lower fiberglass cup that the bearing rides in, and I'll resurface that before reassembly.

I always had a problem with the rudder collar slipping down on the shaft, so I drilled and tapped one of the screws. Stays rock solid now.

My stainless arrived today, but I'm not sure now if the 1/8" I got will have adequate rigidity. May not have measured existing plates closely enough: I think they're more like .15 than .125, although once I have the cracks repaired then welding the additional 4" high plate full length to the outside surfaces should provide additional strength and more rigidity. I can't see a reason not to bridge the top edges with some 1" x .25 I have, so will probably do that as well.

Also will trace the plates with an eye to building a spare at some stage.

I need to splash again in the next couple of weeks, so will take the most expedient approach that results in a good job, recognizing that "better" is the enemy of all that is good.

ronc98 · Post by **ronc98** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 6:53 am

Winward,

email me with you address I have two bearing sitting here for you.

ronc@columbus.rr.com
R

Windward · Post by **Windward** » Sat Nov 01, 2008 6:11 am

Ron,

Private msg in your box. Let me know if problems / questions windward@lizards.net

J

ronc98 · Post by **ronc98** » Sat Nov 01, 2008 4:27 pm

Bearings went out today. Should have them mid week.

Windward · Post by **Windward** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 4:12 am

Skipper, I owe ya!

clair hofmann · Post by **clair hofmann** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 5:05 pm

Has any one seen the the replacement keel shoes in the how to section on chryslersailinglizards.net? They appear to be very substatial, made of maybe 3/8" and 1/4" stainless. they were made by John Zschiele for Magic Lady out of Melbourne Fla. I E mailed him for details or dimensions but got no response. there are very good pictures and they don't appear that hard to make. Just need good dimensions from the old ones.
Clair C 26

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 12:28 pm

Clair, (others) check
http://engr.nmsu.edu/news_items/news_08 ... eile.shtml

May of course not be same person, etc.

clair hofmann · Post by **clair hofmann** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 5:32 pm

EE
Thanks for the PM. Judging from the resume in the obit and the quality look of the keel shoes it was probably the same person. At least he left us some good pics of his work.
Clair

NYCSAILOR · Post by **NYCSAILOR** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 5:47 pm

61, that is just not right..makes you wonder...just get oout there and enjoy life with your loved ones....

this forum and his obit reminds me ..

.What one does for oneself dies with you, what one does for others is immortal..."

ronc98 · Post by **ronc98** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 5:10 am

NYCSAILOR wrote:this forum and his obit reminds me ..

.What one does for oneself dies with you, what one does for others is immortal..."

Well Said

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 6:39 am

EE's skipper celebrated only being 6 years short of that mark of 61 last night with some Key Lime Pie, and a couple Killian's.

"Alone on a midnight passage
I can count the falling stars
While the Southern Cross and the satellites
They remind me of where we are
Spinning around in circles
Living it day to day
And still twenty four hours maybe sixty good years
It's really not that long a stay. "

keysskipper · Post by **keysskipper** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:26 am

One of Jimmys best, his best lyrics were written aboard "Euphoria" 1&11
his sailboat

Chrysler Sailors Forum

C26 - Rudder bearings and swing keel shoes

C26 - Rudder bearings and swing keel shoes

Rudder Bearing

Yes, please!!

Wow!!

Ron - message sent