Rudder Shaft Problem

[svenskflicka]

Hello, when I went below deck today there was a piece of a metal ring on the floor that broke off from the top of the rudder shaft. Does anyone know what this is? Is it just to back up the bolts? Or does it provide some kind of alignment?

Do I have to drop the rudder to fix or perhaps they make a split ring version?

[SailRedemption]

Looks like a backing plate for those bolts. You could pull the bolts, and have a new full split ring made to replace it. You'd probably have to rebed whatever it is up top that the bolts hold, which isn't hard.

[svenskflicka]

This is what is at the top.

[sailah]

Right. So have a machine shop make up a ring to size, tapped for the holes. Then they can split it and dress the sharp edges. You could also make another split ring to be oriented 90 degress to the first to tie the whole thing together. But then you would need to make the holes thru holes not tapped and use longer bolts and nuts.

You could also have that part made quite easily from a laser shop but they wouldn't tap it for you.

[Tillsbury]

Seems a bit overkill. Get a piece of thickish aluminium and drill the appropriate large hole in and the bolt holes, then saw it in two. Use that instead, and put washers and nuts on the end of the bolts. Take the opportunity to re-bed the top with some of the Bed-it tape.