What Should I Do About this Rudder ?

[sww914]

My Vagabond 39 rudder has a small pin at the bottom that is loose and wiggling around. It is set like a rivet, mushroomed on both ends. What is it? What does it do? How should I fix it?
Can I just replace it with a bolt?
Thanks!

[daddle]

Probably keeps a bigger pin from falling into Davy Jones Locker. Replace it.

[kismet]

If it pins your rudder to the stock...might want to replace or peen it over so that it does not move anymore. It looks like it is holding the lower part of the rudder, that should be welded to the rudder frame, to the shaft. Your picture is not clear enough to get the full idea of what is happening there. Not that being right there gives that either, sometimes.

[anjou]

Scratch the barnacles off it and see if its stainless or copper.
If its been peened over, I doubt its SS, and if its copper I would replace it.

[Joli]

It wouldn't be copper, it's probably bronze. Grind off the head, drive it out partially and replace it with new stock. Complete driving out the old pin with the new pin, lest you loose track of the hole in the pin.

Google Image Result for http://www.mertons.com/img_content/bronze-rods.jpg

[svHyLyte]

It is a "keeper" that locks the gudgon which can be seen on the forward corner of the base of the rudder to the pintle, which extends off the aft of the keel. I would be surprized if it were not bronze and, if it is loose, it has likely been wasted by electrolysis in which case one should inspect the gudgons carefully before relaunching the yacht. If the gudgon is also wasted (i.e. "pink"), so will be the pintles and both will need replacement. If not, one can easily replace the keeper pin with bronze rod.

FWIW

PS: The keeper will pass through a channel machined into the pintel not the pintle itself.

[svHyLyte]

Originally Posted by svHyLyte

It is a "keeper" that locks ....

I have been informed the use of the term "is" in the foregoing phrase is too definative and should have been "may" as the pin "may" be a keeper (or it may not) but that cannot be ascertained for certain absent a detailed inspection. So. I stand corrected...

FWIW...

[Jimbo2010]

I would drill and tap it, thread a SS bolt and nylon locknut.

You also could wire the nut if you're concerned.

[sailingaway221]

Originally Posted by Jimbo2010

I would drill and tap it, thread a SS bolt and nylon locknut.

Jimbo, nothing personal mate but, I wouldn't recommend taping and threading a stainless bolt into anything that a rudder stock or rudder is made of below or above the water line. Electrolysis between stainless and bronze ( as I imagine this is made of ) would be destructive to say the least. I would hesitate to tap and thread anything at all below the waterline and stick a stainless bolt into it.... even the difference in metal compound between a stainless plate and a stainless bolt will create electrolysis. Between copper and bronze and aluminum, below the water line a stainless bolt will kill it all within a very short period of time.

[Jimbo2010]

I have zincs that are on my bronze prop, attached with threaded SS, 5 years I just unscrewed them this summer no issues ss/bronze.

???????

[sww914]

The pin in question is certainly either copper or bronze, it's all pink behind the heads. I suspect bronze is more likely, copper isn't usually used as a fastener AFAIK, I don't think it's strong enough. I think that the remedy will be to peen a new piece of bronze rod through the hole. I believe I should pull the rudder off and check the gudgeons and pintles for corrosion.
Rudders are important.
Thanks everyone!