450: Lagoon Rudder Bearing Replacement

[DavefromNZ]

After 6 years we decided to replace our rudder bearings. The lower rudder was moving more than the 3mm limit, the top more, and it could be heard moving on a quiet night at anchor. I took some photos and attached a document for Lagoon owners info. A fairly straight forward job but allow to lift one day and return the next.

Cheers
Dave
PS file and phots had to be compressed a bit to upload here.

[664895ss]

Just had a look at the download, really helpful !! Thank you for posting that, where did you get the boat hauled out? We are coming up that way soon and need to haul out for Cat 1 inspection, was thinking of Whangarei

[Dsanduril]

We have the same bearings on our boat, and they have been replaced more than once. One caution to others who might do this, if you procrastinate (the PO did) the bearings working in the stern tube will eventually get the stern tube out of round. Then if you fit new bearings they'll still move around (in this case movement between the bearing and the stern tube rather than the rudder shaft and the bearing). 5200 helps, but in the end you either have to true the stern tube, replace the stern tube, or get bearings cut to match the out of round. None of those are pleasant options. Moral of the story, don't procrastinate on this item, if you hear movement it needs to be taken care of.

@664895ss - we have hauled twice at Norsand in Whangarei and found them quite good. They haul on a trailer and can only handle one-two cats a day at the top of the tide so scheduling can be a touch difficult. Port Whangarei also hauls a fair number of cats, they use a Travellift, so scheduling is more flexible (we prefer Norsand for various reasons but PW is newer and has nicer facilities - YMMV).

[DavefromNZ]

Lifted at Gulf Harbour, 7th time lifting there, and they are good. 8cm each side on the wall. Lift only when tide above 2.7m or below 1.5m as the lifting blocks can't fit down the side of the yacht. Can return any tide as the aft strop is released.

[Bean Counter]

Very useful post, thank you.

[riv33]

Great Post Dave thank you !
By the way is there a part number for the rudder bearings?

[DavefromNZ]

I don’t know the part number just ordered from my local agent who imported from Lagoon. Quite expensive.

[riv33]

Thanks Dave
sounds like one thing to have in the spares kit before leaving the Med

[Millerslocal]

Thanks Dave.

Does Lagoon specify at what interval these should get changed, or just a case of when the >3mm fore/aft movement presents itself that's the time to do it?

[DavefromNZ]

No timeframe just the 3mm. The clunking sound at night was the final straw. [emoji51] . We are 6 years and 10,000nm usage.

[arsenelupiga]

inspired by your lead, I have inspected fore/aft movement on m L 400 today and is definitely way less than 3mm each. But around 3mm left/right movement. We can also hear sometimes rudders clocking at night.

Boat just crossed 20,000 nm.

What would be the reason one boat uses bearings faster than other ? Material is the same... Maybe NZ waters put more pressure on rudders ? We do 10+kn as well so it is not speed.