I just brought my
boat from it's previous owners port of Sarnia,
Ontario at the south end of Lake Huron to Kingston,
Ontario at the east end of
Lake Ontario.
The
boat is a 1986
C&C 44.
The boat surveyed fine and when
on the hard over the
winter there was no play in the
rudder at all.
Over the course of our 5 day journey we started to get
rudder movement at high
engine rpms and then significant rudder movement while sailing.
The rudder shaft enters the
hull and is contained in a tube that is approx 18 inch high. This tube is secured to the
hull with substantial reinforcment.
In the tube there is a grease fitting. I assume there is a bearing below and a bearing above the grease fitting.
The rudder post exits the tube above this section for about 18 inches at which point the quadrant is attached and then the rudder post enters a receptacle below the
helm seat.
While watching the rudder post
work while under sail, the receptacle under the
helm seat was bending significantly and the rudder shaft was grinding and squeaking.
Can anyone help with what bearings were used by
C&C on their larger boats in the mid 1980's. I have numerous questions.
How many bearings are there? What are they made from?
Where can they be obtained from? What is the procedure to replace the bearings?
I assume it means hauling the boat despite the fact that the top of the rudder is above the
water line.
Is it reasonable for bearings to degrade over a 400 mile/5 day period?
They seem to have gone from no play at all to totally worn out very rapidly.
After seeing the rudder post
work in far from difficult conditions I feel the need to address the problem immediately.
Any information on this topic would help considerably.