My rudder looked terrible, and wobbled side to side between the cheeks (no, it's not a medical problem). Anyway, after removal, I went ahead and removed the three layers of paint and a layer of primer, and was amazed to find a shiny white gelcoat like surface underneath! There are a few chips and scratches, but I think that I may be able to repair those with some gelcoat.
I thought at first that the rudder was plywood with a fiberglass and gelcoat surface, but on further inspection, it looks more like a molded plastic surface with a foam core. I can't see any fiberglass at the edges of the pivot and line holes.
The pivot hole is oblong, and I believe that is why the blade has so much slop. Since the small pivot tube just goes through a non-reinforced hole, I can see why this would happen. Has anyone had this issue, and what did you do to fix it?
My plan is to beef it up. So I am planning on drilling the hole out to about 1 1/2" in diameter, then inserting a high grade plastic bushing, and then using a short length of 3/4" stainless steel pipe as the pivot tube, with a large ss bolt. I will have to drill the cheek holes to 3/4" also, and use a large ss washer.
Any comments or suggestions?
C-26 rudder pivot
C-26 rudder pivot
--Richard
'77 Chrysler C26 "Imori"
'77 Chrysler C26 "Imori"
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Chrysler20%26
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Rudder Pivit Pin
My C-20 rudder is like yours, With 1 bolt going throu the checks an the rudder. Adding the bushing,will fix it an don't for get the bushing the the rope runs on. The rudder on my C-20 is biger, than the rudder on my C26 it has a 8'' diamater hole with a stanless steal sleve. 6 bolt make a circle an the rudder rols on the bolts.
Last edited by Chrysler20%26 on Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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EmergencyExit
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EE's is in the same shape (so to speak). The elongation on ours is vertical when the blade is vertical. Probably will do same repair as you.
I've also found there is a fine line when tightening the pivot bolt. A bit too loose and the blade will wobble in the cheeks. But just a touch too tight and it is difficult to lower/raise the blade with the lines. Was thinking of some sort of paper thin teflon gasket to act as a washer between the cheeks and the blade.
I've also found there is a fine line when tightening the pivot bolt. A bit too loose and the blade will wobble in the cheeks. But just a touch too tight and it is difficult to lower/raise the blade with the lines. Was thinking of some sort of paper thin teflon gasket to act as a washer between the cheeks and the blade.
EE - Yes, the hole in my is verticle also. Is your pin full of grooves too?
I think what I am going to do is take a square block of 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" plastic(type still to be determined), and cut it to a maybe a 1/32" of an inch thicker than the rudder. (that would give me a 1/64" space for the rest of the circular part of the rudder to turn in the cheeks without friction)
I will then cut a square hole in the rudder to match and then 5200 the block in place. Then I can drill a hole through for my 3/4" ss tube.
The square hole would assure that the bushing will not rotate in the rudder. In addition, I will not have to find someone with a lathe to cut the outside diameter of the bushing to precisly fit a round hole.
I have a friend in the plastic industry that has recommended a few plastics that would work. I'll let you know what I decide on.
Like most of the projects on my boat, I will be taking pics.
I think what I am going to do is take a square block of 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" plastic(type still to be determined), and cut it to a maybe a 1/32" of an inch thicker than the rudder. (that would give me a 1/64" space for the rest of the circular part of the rudder to turn in the cheeks without friction)
I will then cut a square hole in the rudder to match and then 5200 the block in place. Then I can drill a hole through for my 3/4" ss tube.
The square hole would assure that the bushing will not rotate in the rudder. In addition, I will not have to find someone with a lathe to cut the outside diameter of the bushing to precisly fit a round hole.
I have a friend in the plastic industry that has recommended a few plastics that would work. I'll let you know what I decide on.
Like most of the projects on my boat, I will be taking pics.