Removing rudder on CD-30

[Jay Ankers]

I looked in the archives and found no answers to this question so here goes:

Has anybody removed the rudder on a Cape Dory 30 or similar size CD and does it require removing the bronze gudgeon on the trailing edge of the keel? I would like to remove it just to the side if possible but I am not sure about the clearance around the rudder stock penetration thru the hull. I would imagine that there will be more "play" with the stuffing box and hose removed off the top of the shaft. (if it is possible without removing rudder first)

Needless to say, I am not excited about wedging myself down there below the cockpit to start this project only to find that it can't be completed without taking the gudgeon off the bottom of the keel.

Jay
CD-30 #344
Per Diem



jankers@pii-cgmp.com

[Bill Goldsmith]

Jay:

I've never removed a rudder but I do believe there were some prior postings on this issue. Seems that the only way to remove the rudder is to take off the gudgeon. If you're completely removing it then you have the additional problem of lowering the rudder enough to clear the rudder shaft tube. Some have done it while in the slings and others have dug a hole deep enough to allow the rudder to clear.

I have a tiller and I would imagine that would require a deeper hole (or higher lifting) than with a wheel because with the tiller the rudder shaft is longer. If you just want to move the rudder aside, I can't even guess what amount of "play" there might be in the lower tube, but I'd guess it's a function of (1) the length of the tube and (2) the difference between the ID of the tube and the OD of the shaft.
Question: What are you doing that needs pushing the rudder aside as opposed to removing it? (Just curious).

Bill Goldsmith

I looked in the archives and found no answers to this question so here goes:

Has anybody removed the rudder on a Cape Dory 30 or similar size CD and does it require removing the bronze gudgeon on the trailing edge of the keel? I would like to remove it just to the side if possible but I am not sure about the clearance around the rudder stock penetration thru the hull. I would imagine that there will be more "play" with the stuffing box and hose removed off the top of the shaft. (if it is possible without removing rudder first)

Needless to say, I am not excited about wedging myself down there below the cockpit to start this project only to find that it can't be completed without taking the gudgeon off the bottom of the keel.

Jay
CD-30 #344
Per Diem

goldy@bestweb.net

[Jay]

I do want to remove the rudder completely. But, I did not want to un-glass the gudgeon at the foot of the keel; So I was refering to taking the rudder up and out of the gudgeon and then down the side of it to remove it completly.

I am removing the bottom paint in the next week so I will be able to see what is required to remove the gudgeon.

Jay
CD-30 #344
Per Diem

[Patrick Turner]

Check out Duane Yoslov's post on 6/17/99 titled "An Interesting Rudder Discovery". Might be some useful information there.

Pat
CD30
San Franciscio Bay



patturner@earthlink.net