Binding Rudder
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Last update, January 12, 2008

Repair

 

It has been mentioned over the time on this site that the rudder fairing interior wall is difficult for fabricators. This when laying the hull and extracting it from the mold. Cleaning the interior wall of the fairing is essential for smooth move of the rudder.

 

It happens very seldom but a rudder can have binding points in the full travel of its range, wall edge to wall edge. There are three reasons found; misaligned shaft in the rudder, a bent shaft and the one we will discuss here, a fairing wall that is not smooth. The first two are failures and likely the rudder will have to be replaced.

 

A fairing that is not smooth is not noticeable and it is generally at the hilt area of the fairing where it joins the hull. And while it is hard to see it is also hard to get at. Most times the use of two layer of blue tape on the leading edge of the rudder during the installation will bypass these little bumps in the surface. If you want a tighter fit and hence, less throw, this problem could surface.

Finding it

The problem will surface after installation and when the tiller is installed and the movement is tested. Get a contrasting colored grease pencil and mark up the leading edge of the rudder as shown. Put the rudder into the sleeve with the hull upside down. Move the rudder back and forth several times and remove it. During the binding the grease pencil material will transfer from the rudder to the fairing in the area where the binding occurs. You will note here it was at the hilt.

 

The Fix

Remove the rudder. A 1/2" Dremel Grinder bit was used here that should fit into the fairing snugly. It did not and while held firmly against the fairing was rotated back and forth with the fingers till gel coat color was showing on the bit. You could use sandpaper on a stick or scrape it with a razor knife. It is not suggested to use the Dremel motor. Things could happen that are not desirable. Work the area shown by the pencil with frequent tries inserting the rudder to see improvement. When you reach a point of smooth travel then work up the fairing to the keel just to make sure all is smooth.

 

Be patient and work carefully so you do not damage the edge of the fairing wall or change the nice straight line of the fairing produced by the class mold.