Leopard 40 Rudder Post - Salt on post

[gbillman]

Encrusted salt is coming up my starboard post (see pic). It seems to ooze from the seam between where the fiberglass ends and the bare post begins. Anyone out there ever experience this? Solution?

[tkeithlu]

From the pattern (note the brown streaks) it's salt water coming up the tube and then evaporating. The solution that comes to mind is installing a shaft seal.

[Blackie Swart]

The seal is on the top of the tube. The bottom of the type has no seal - depending on the year of your L40. To fix it you have to be out of the water as this is below the water line.

[MikeFergie]

The tube on the rudders is sikaflexed into the bottom Ali housing. Pitting through was a problem which some owners injected grease into this space to stop the water coming inside and causing the corrosion of the tube. I have just bought a set of nice new fiberglass tubes with seals in the top that I will fit shortly to my Leopard40 2009 model to stop this problem

[gbillman]

Thanks all. Mine is a 2006 Leopard.

[gbillman]

Can this be done in the water?

Originally Posted by MikeFergie

The tube on the rudders is sikaflexed into the bottom Ali housing. Pitting through was a problem which some owners injected grease into this space to stop the water coming inside and causing the corrosion of the tube. I have just bought a set of nice new fiberglass tubes with seals in the top that I will fit shortly to my Leopard40 2009 model to stop this problem

[billknny]

Wait a minute... Am I missing something?

Is that IT? That's the rudder post thru hull? No buttresses? No other structure? That little bit of frp is supposed to take the entire load of the rudder post?

[Blackie Swart]

Originally Posted by gbillman

Can this be done in the water?

See post #3

[Blackie Swart]

Originally Posted by billknny

Wait a minute... Am I missing something?

Is that IT? That's the rudder post thru hull? No buttresses? No other structure? That little bit of frp is supposed to take the entire load of the rudder post?

The bottom delrin bush housing is built into the hull and it has a smaller lip that fits of the inside of the tube. They are sikaflexed together as mentioned already. You'll see extra fiberglass reinforcing around that area if look underneath where the rudder stock comes out.

International Boat Spares carry stock of these parts and they are very efficient.
LEOPARD 38-384-40-43-44-B1 - International Boat Spares

[gbillman]

Thanks Mike! What source did you use to buy from? Did you complete the project yet? I am hauling on 7/28 to replace a saildrive and some underwater lights. Will tackle this project at same time.

[MikeFergie]

Yes I did. I bought my fiberglass tubes from Chris in South Africa who had some but I see them on the international boat spares website

[slug]

Originally Posted by MikeFergie

The tube on the rudders is sikaflexed into the bottom Ali housing. Pitting through was a problem which some owners injected grease into this space to stop the water coming inside and causing the corrosion of the tube. I have just bought a set of nice new fiberglass tubes with seals in the top that I will fit shortly to my Leopard40 2009 model to stop this problem

Yah

Replace with non metallic bearing , tube

The pictured rudder installation looks terrible

Cut it out and throw it away