rudder stuck

[nflpa5]

had the bottom cleaned today and the rudder is frozen...this is a 79 oday 37ft...no barnacles or obvious problems...tried to move with emergency tiller...no movement....any suggestions??????

[svinshallah]

We had a boat here at Balboa YC. Hauled out. When he went back in the water, the rudder was STUCK. Making a long story short, there had been growth up into the upper rudder bearing; bronze bearing, SS rudder stock. Apparently while it was wet, everything worked. Once it dried out he was in trouble. Had to drive the rudder out of the bearing with big hammers. Cleaned it all out, put a grease fitting in so that he could keep the area lubricated and put it back in the water. Three days of work, but the only parts were 3 new bolts for the lower shoe and a couple of grease fittings. Good luck.

[chris07732]

Similar issue with my older Salar, couldn't move rudder. Fearing the worst, seized bronze bushing, turned out to be the gland material dried out, rolled on itself, jammed within the gland. Removed top plate, picked out all the old gland material, rudder loose as a goose. Replaced gland material, good to go.