I have a Cape Dory 30 cutter, 1977. The boar was designed with a worm gear steering box made of teakwood and teak wheel. The problem is the fiberglass rudder tube leaks water out of the top of the tube when under power above 4 knots. The wash from the propeller is the cause. The rudder tube is about 5" above the cockpit sole. There is no seal off fitting where the rudder exits the rudder tube. Has any one else experienced this problem? If so, can a split type of gland fitting be intsalled without removing the rudder or steering system? I would appreciate your help.
TJGoohew@earthlink.net
CD30 Rudder post water intry
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Joe Mac Phee
Re: CD30 Rudder post water entry
Terry,
Apparenty some Cape Dories with this steering did come with a split bushing to cover the rudder tube, but I have never been able to find a source. It looks your boat and mine did not come with this item. On my boat, I put a stuffing box of the appropriate size. This installation required disassembly of the steering.
There may be other related issues with this assembly to look at. On my boat, the bracket that secures the wheel shaft to the cockpit had completely rusted through (from salt water intrusion). On disassembly, I also observed that the hole in the cockpit sole for the rudder tube was very roughly cut out and was not sealed (creating a path for water intrusion into the sole core). In addition, the opening for the steering was not sealed. I had to remove the teak box and the steering. The rudder tube was glassed into the cockpit sole and the openings for the steering were sealed. You may wish to examine your installation to see if it may have any of these "features".
I apologize for opening this (teak) Pandora's box.
Joe Mac Phee
S/V Iolanthe
Cd-30/K
Bristol, RI
jvmacpheeNOSPAM@aol.com
Apparenty some Cape Dories with this steering did come with a split bushing to cover the rudder tube, but I have never been able to find a source. It looks your boat and mine did not come with this item. On my boat, I put a stuffing box of the appropriate size. This installation required disassembly of the steering.
There may be other related issues with this assembly to look at. On my boat, the bracket that secures the wheel shaft to the cockpit had completely rusted through (from salt water intrusion). On disassembly, I also observed that the hole in the cockpit sole for the rudder tube was very roughly cut out and was not sealed (creating a path for water intrusion into the sole core). In addition, the opening for the steering was not sealed. I had to remove the teak box and the steering. The rudder tube was glassed into the cockpit sole and the openings for the steering were sealed. You may wish to examine your installation to see if it may have any of these "features".
I apologize for opening this (teak) Pandora's box.
Joe Mac Phee
S/V Iolanthe
Cd-30/K
Bristol, RI
jvmacpheeNOSPAM@aol.com