Leaking Rudder Post, Pearson 10 Meter

[cygnus]

Anyone have any tips on repairng a leaking rudder post , especially how to get to it on a 1975 Pearson 10 Meter Thanks, Lawrence

[tkeithlu]

Gotta know more, Cygnus. From that start, it sounds like the stuffing box or shaft seal is leaking, but then, have you hit anything? Lots of possibilities here.

You get to it by crawling on your belly like a reptile under the cockpit. I hope that you are not claustrophobic.

[cygnus]

I owned her 4 years and never hit. I noticed the last year it`s seeping very slow at the looks like the rudder post packing. I sucked it out today and I can see the water seeping in very very slow. To loosen those packing nuts would be very difficult because of where it`s located. Just trying to find someone who has a 10 meter and had to do the same project as me. Getting ready to haul her out [ every 3 years] and would like to attack this. Thanks

[psk125]

Getting new oakum into the rudder post stuffing box is not that difficult, though getting back there can be like spelunking. It may take one trip to determine what size packing you need, and a second one to put it in. Ours was just at the waterline, so it only leaked when we were under way. Didn't find out until our steering got loose during a race. Went in to tighten the cables and saw a fountain each time we came down a wave on a broad reach. Quite a surprise.

[Manateeman]

Teflon impregnated packing material. Polish shaft and inside cup nut. TefGel threads after wire brushing them and don’t over tighten. After some use you might need to re tighten as the packing seats.
Are you sure this is where it’s leaking and not the hull joint.
We’ve seen shaft logs spin in the hull and it’s a bad leak.
Check for hull cracks and if so see them, haul the boat.
The manatee crew

[tkeithlu]

That rudder has pretty good protection against impact. Let's hope that leaking packing is the only problem. "Only" should be in quote marks - the job is nasty enough as is.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by cygnus

Anyone have any tips on repairng a leaking rudder post , especially how to get to it on a 1975 Pearson 10 Meter Thanks, Lawrence

They don't make boats for ease of access. If the gland needs repacking would it be possible to cut an access in the cockpit or lazarette and reseal it?

[Scubaseas]

Originally Posted by Cadence

They don't make boats for ease of access. If the gland needs repacking would it be possible to cut an access in the cockpit or lazarette and reseal it?

If you take the quadrant off you can easily access the stuffing box through the emegency rudder deck plate.

Suggest the OP go to Marinehowto.com and read up on repacking stuffing boxes which is what the 10M has on the rudder post. Graphite works great unless you get hit by lightening. Flax works fine and won't fuse to the shaft if there's a lightening strike. Having said that I'd use graphite on a prop shaft but it's a bit of overkill on the rudder IMHO.

[guyrj33]

This thread on the pearson boats google group has a good description of the Pearson 10M rudder.
https://groups.google.com/g/pearson-...m/YZyl4KB-AQAJ

You can get to the rudder post through the Starboard sail locker after removing the partition separating the sail locker from the engine area.

I own hull #6.

[Manateeman]

If the rudder shaft is silicon bronze, we would not use graphite. Flax went out with flat head engines. Teflon impregnated packing material is one of the most widely used materials in industry. We cannot see any advantage of other packing materials for rudder or propeller shafts .
The manatee crew

[cygnus]

Originally Posted by guyrj33

This thread on the pearson boats google group has a good description of the Pearson 10M rudder.
https://groups.google.com/g/pearson-...m/YZyl4KB-AQAJ

You can get to the rudder post through the Starboard sail locker after removing the partition separating the sail locker from the engine area.

I own hull #6.

Thanks for your input....I took that partition off and only could get 1 arm in to touch it. I`m afraid I have to pull the fuel tank to get any leverage. Again, Thanks

[tamicatana]

I know of a Pearson which sank bc the rudder post leaked and the owner didnt get to it in time. Fix it.

[Rdl]

I had the same problem with my bristol 30, I could only touch it with one hand, but with determination I was successful in repacking the shaft with one hand.
Good luck!

[glenn.225]

Some times you're lucky to be able to reach it (the problem) with one hand. I spent the early years of my career working on armoured vehicles. Those things make work boats seem easy.


Here is a couple of hints, put down a rag(s) to catch stuff you may/will drop. A couple of magnets one on a string and one on a rod are very helpful (for ferrous metal). One of those flexible grabs ( https://www.homedepot.com/p/GrabEasy...505170#overlay ) are handy. Socket extensions; have several in different sizes and use a few wraps of tape on the joints to keep them from separating. You can also lightly tape fasteners to sockets, wrenches or driver bits (masking tape works well for this).


Good luck with it.