Rudder Poat Hardware For 1968 Pearson 35

[GibsonGuitar]

The rudder for my P35 has been off for several years during restoration and as I am trying to go back overboard I cannot find any seals, bearings, etc. that would go on the rudder post. Has anyone had any experience with the hardware that goes on the post and/or in the tube of a '68 P35, or do you have a source that I could contact? I have tried every source that I can find with no results. Thanks.

[Suijin]

You're at ground zero for sail boat refitting in Virginia. There is no one in any of the yards there that can help you out?

[Noreastern]

We have just rebuilt our rudder on our 1965 Pearson Invicta. The only major seal is a standard stuffing box (for our boat it is 1 1/2"). There is an O-ring where shaft passes thru the cockpit sole but that is just for keeping rain water out of the bilge and most likely a standard size o0ring (we hope). Bearing wise stuffing box acts as upper bearing and bronze shoe at bottom of keel acts as the lower bearing. Not saying yours is the same design but thought I would post what we have since there both Pearsons from the same time frame.

[roverhi]

Looks like a stuffing box at the hull on my boat. If it's a tiller, there would be a fiberglass surround for the rudder shaft in the cockpit. If not, it was just an inspection plate in the cockpit sole to allow access for the emergency tiller. There was a custom shoe cast for the heel of the rudder at the keel. Probably have a picture somewhere if that would help.

I've gone to tiller steering. If you need the bronze plate for the cockpit sole or the bronze emergency tiller let me know.

[Noreastern]

Pete,
We did the same thing except our emergency tiller was the tiller one got with the boat if you did not choose the wheel option so we had it easy. We still have the full Edsin steering system all bronze we were planning on scrapping.