Rudder ????

[Larry Austin]

This afternoon I help a friend of mine remove the rudder from his boat. (It's a Sabre) I was inside removing all the steering stuff from the shaft while he was digg'n the hole below...After removing all the stuff from the rudder I realize there was only *one* bolt thru the shaft that kept the rudder from heading south. My ???. is the Cape
Dory designed the same way?..only one thru-bolt thru the shaft? or does the gudgeon below support the weight of the rudder? If there is a thru-bolt I would think it should be checked and changed if corroded.
(the one on the Sabre was very corroded)

Cheers
Larry Austin
CD30 MKII
LAYLA



laustin@us.ibm.com

[Patrick Turner]

The rudder shaft sits in the gudgeon fitting which is bolted thru the keel. The gudgeon fitting is brass and I believe the rudder shaft is stainless. The danger is that the shaft can work an oval seat in the gudgeon. If gone unchecked, I suppose there could be a failure...but unless sever....unlikely


Pat
CD30 San Francisco Bay
Sasha Oren



patturner@earthlink.net

[Russell]

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. In sea water, the zinc acts like an anode to the copper, dissolving. This destroys the brass. Brass is unsuited for use below the waterline. Even above, brass tarnishes in salt air. Many people prefer not to have any on their boat. Unlike bronze, brass does not develop a stable, attractive, and protective patina, but just gets unglier and uglier as it tarnishes, until you polish it.

Most Cape Dory hardware, from ports to the rudder gudgeon, are bronze. None of the exterior hardware is brass. I think the interior reading lights are brass. Brass often is used for bells.