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Rudder Post Leaking

GMW

Junior Member
I have a 1980 model Ericson 30+ and I have just discovered that a significant leak has developed from the top of the rudder post when the boat is underway. Can anyone tell me if they have taken out a rudder before to repair such a leak? I presume there must be some kind of rubber seal to prevent water coming in normally. If so where can I buy one from? Thanks GMW
 

Loren Beach

O34 - Portland, OR
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
If you have a fiberglass rudder tube glassed to the bottom of your boat like we have, there is likely a short bronze stuffing box on top that holds several rings of packing. This can harden over the decades and either needs to be tightened a bit or perhaps replaced. Of course this is always in an area of the boat that is difficult to access.
Can you get into the stern sections and have a look?

Loren
 

GMW

Junior Member
If you have a fiberglass rudder tube glassed to the bottom of your boat like we have, there is likely a short bronze stuffing box on top that holds several rings of packing. This can harden over the decades and either needs to be tightened a bit or perhaps replaced. Of course this is always in an area of the boat that is difficult to access.
Can you get into the stern sections and have a look?

Loren


Thanks Loren, I will try to get in and have a look. Regards GMW
 

GMW

Junior Member
Hello All,

To close the loop on this I finally managed to get back to fixing this problem. I didn't touch the stuffing box at all. I took the information Christian Williams provided and fitted a Zerk fitting to the rear side of the fiberglass rudder post about 10 cm down from the top and pumped it full of marine grease (14 oz) until the grease started to come out around the top of the post. During the process I rotated the rudder back and forth to encourage the grease to move completely around the post within the tube.

The leak was completely sealed. I have since tested the boat in very rough and calm conditions, under power and or under sail and there are no leaks at all coming from the rudder post.

Note The installation of the Zerk fitting was very quick: just drill the hole, epoxy the Zerk fitting in with good epoxy glue and some glass mat and wait overnight for it to harden, and then pump the grease in.

Note I had fairly easy access to the back of the rudder post from the rear locker so there wasn't too much body contortion required and much less than if I had tried to get at the stuffing box. I would recommend this method as a good way to start if anyone else has a leaking rudder post. The other upside is that the steering now feels very smooth because it is well lubricated again.

Thanks Geoff
 
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