Ericson 35-3 rudder post leak

[Rhett_m]

Hello everyone,
I woke up to a considerable amount of water in my bilge this morning. I tracked it down to the bottom zerk fitting on my rudder post leaking. I had my boat hauled out this summer, and there was very little play in my rudder, and my steering has been smooth as butter. I elected not to drop my rudder, as I had other more pressing projects I was working on.
The water was dribbling out of my bottom zerk fitting. I decided to clean it with some wd40 and use the heat gun to loosen it up. I figured the ball was just stuck in the fitting.
I got my grease gun and put a tube and a half of grease in it. I imagine it was fairly low on grease. I plan on waiting until the next time I haul out to replace the zerk fitting witch is glassed in.
Im hoping with the grease, and I fitted a small piece of tube with a bolt plugging one end To prevent grease from escaping the non functioning zerk fitting. Any thoughts as to why there was water intrusion at the lower fitting? Does my remedy seem like a reasonable fix until the next haul out?

thanks everyone

 

[footrope]

I think that is a pretty good solution as long as the zerk is still securely stuck in the tube.

 

[Nick J]

Sorry for the dumb question, is the zerk fitting below the water line?

 

[Rhett_m]

I think that is a pretty good solution as long as the zerk is still securely stuck in the tube.

The zerk appears to be glassed I’m fairly well. I plan on removing it and glassing in a bronze coupler and new zerk next time I drop my rudder. I saw a guy do that in a previous thread. I’ll try to find it again. Thanks

 

[Rhett_m]

Sorry for the dumb question, is the zerk fitting below the water line?

That’s why I was a little baffled by how the zerk was leaking sea water. I think it’s right at, if not slightly above the waterline. I guess water has intruded the lower packing gland. Thanks for the reply

 

[Nick J]

That does seem odd, but I guess you have to grease it some way (I stilll haven't got around to it yet). Thanks for the pics.

 

[1911tex]

Rhett_m: How in the world did you wiggle down below the cockpit to reach the zerk?

 

[Rhett_m]

Rhett_m: How in the world did you wiggle down below the cockpit to reach the zerk?

I actually removed the bulkhead just aft of the removable panel in the starboard lazarette. It was tabbed to the hull with glass, then screwed in at the top. It gives you ample room to work around the rudder shaft, cockpit drains, etc...

 

[Rhett_m]

I actually removed the bulkhead just aft of the removable panel in the starboard lazarette. It was tabbed to the hull with glass, then screwed in at the top. It gives you ample room to work around the rudder shaft, cockpit drains, etc...

Just make sure you have someone there to hand you tools once you’re in there!

 

[Kenneth K]

Nice temporary fix. Can't tell what boat you have, and it's likely different from the 32-3, but your zerk looks likes it's placed lower than what I've normally seen people post in pictures.

In the 32-3, the bottom 6" (est) of the rudder tube is a SS sleeve/bearing embedded into the hull. Above that, the rudder tube is fiberglass, all the way up to the stuffing box. Both my original (rusted out) and new zerks are placed up fairly high, near to the stuffing box.



If your zerk is low down in the tube, it would have to penetrate both the fiberglass and the SS bearing in the rudder tube, but that seems unlikely. The advantage of this would be that you could directly lubricate the metal-to-metal bearing at the bottom of the rudder. The disadvantage is that the zerk would be below the waterline.

Lower sleeve bearing of rudder tube
Looking up the sleeve bearing, through the rudder tube, to the upper rudder tube bearing.

When the zerk is placed higher up, like mine, it takes a WHOLE LOT of grease to fill the tube to the point where it comes out the lower sleeve bearing. The advantage, though, is that the zerk is above the waterline (except maybe while sailing or motoring at high speeds).

I was never able to find SS zerks in stores, and had to buy them online.

 

[Christian Williams]

Welcome aboard, Rhett. Please put your boat, model and engine in the signature line. There are many variants of Ericsons and that will help members know if they have information that applies.

Click on member name (top of page)/Signature. Anything you put in Signature appears below every post you write.

 

[nquigley]

Nice temporary fix. Can't tell what boat you have, and it's likely different from the 32-3, but your zerk looks likes it's placed lower than what I've normally seen people post in pictures.

In the 32-3, the bottom 6" (est) of the rudder tube is a SS sleeve/bearing embedded into the hull. Above that, the rudder tube is fiberglass, all the way up to the stuffing box. Both my original (rusted out) and new zerks are placed up fairly high, near to the stuffing box.

View attachment 36824 Lower sleeve bearing of rudder tube
View attachment 36823 Looking up the sleeve bearing, through the rudder tube, to the upper rudder tube bearing.

When the zerk is placed higher up, like mine, it takes a WHOLE LOT of grease to fill the tube to the point where it comes out the lower sleeve bearing. The advantage, though, is that the zerk is above the waterline (except maybe while sailing or motoring at high speeds).

I was never able to find SS zerks in stores, and had to buy them online.

Kenneth - thank your SO MUCH for posting those pics looking up into the tube where the rudder post inserts in the 32-3. Despite many posts about the zerk nozzle and about the packing rings at the top of the tube, this is the first view I've seen of the empty bearing sleeve from the bottom. It really helps visualize how and why packing the upper portion with lots of waterproof grease helps lube the cavity surrounding the upper part of the rudder tube. Heh - we can even see the inner end of your zerk nozzle projecting into the upper part of that cavity - great pic!

 

[Kenneth K]

Yeah, dropping the rudder is a new experience for me, so it's always good to learn new things about the boat. After watching the yard do it, I wouldn't hesistate now to do it myself--it's only 5 bolts.

The rudder is a lot heavier than I expected. Seems I read elsewhere that these rudders float when dropped in the slip. I wouldn't bet much on my rudder floating.

I've also seen posts about rust stains on the top of the rudder during haulouts. Now I see that it's mostly from that sleeve bearing, but there were a few square inches of patchy light rust on the lower part of my rudder post as well.

 

[1911tex]

Everyone...the OP's title indicates the boat...35-3. Also good to put in signature line.

 

[Kenneth K]

Everyone...the OP's title indicates the boat...35-3. Also good to put in signature line.

Hah! I missed that little detail....

 

[Christian Williams]

That little detail requires scrolling 16 messages up.

 

[Kenneth K]

That little detail requires scrolling 16 messages up.

That's what meant to say.....