Leaky Rudder Post

W

wshiley

New Member
Mar 25, 2005
15
Vermilion, Ohio
Boat Info
1987 340 EC
Engines
Twin Crusader 454
I have a 1987 340 EC and the port Rudder Post is leaking. I am guessing that the rudder needs to be re-packed or tightened.

Has anyone done this on this vintage? What is the prodedure for repacking the rudder post? Any gottcha's?

Thanks
Bill
 
W shiley,

I repacked my shafts and rudders this season in the water. This made a world of difference. Try tightening first and see where you are at. Good luck.
 
See post #128 HERE
Ron will answer whatever questions you have if you PM him. He is very helpful!
As was discussed on this thread, you can add packing while in the water, but not REpack them, which means to remove all packing, clean, and reinstall new packing.
 
Excellent,,post #128 was just what I was looking for. Now if I can only make myself like a pretzel the job will be easy. Getting to the rudder post is 90% of the work. Thanks
 
Mine is below the waterline just like my prop shaft packing which I also did in the water. It is amazing how little water comes in when you remove all the packing. I had less than a gallon come in thru the prop shaft. The very first time I did it I was prepared for all sorts of sinking problems. It was almost a letdown. the second time I did the shafts I did not even consider the water coming in. it was also the last time since I used GFO.
 
I've repacked both of mine in the water (below water line) without problems. GFO beats the old stuff by miles.

Rgds Nick.
 
Sure, you can stuff packing in without hauling the boat.
If you want to do it "right", you need to disassemble and CLEAN the packing nuts and rudder posts- which means hauling the boat and removing the rudder shelves to do it.

Me, I'd rather take the time to do it once, the right way...rather than a band-aid fix and still end up having to screw with it six months later when it starts leaking again.

My $.02
 
tobnpr said:
Sure, you can stuff packing in without hauling the boat.
If you want to do it "right", you need to disassemble and CLEAN the packing nuts and rudder posts- which means hauling the boat and removing the rudder shelves to do it.

Me, I'd rather take the time to do it once, the right way...rather than a band-aid fix and still end up having to screw with it six months later when it starts leaking again.

My $.02
Click to expand...




I have done it both ways. The first tim eewas in the water on my old Chris. It lasted 6 months before it started leaking. Pulled it, cleaned it and did it right after that. Been 7 years and counting.
 
katricol said:
What's gfo ???
Click to expand...
Look HERE
You can pack the boxes in the water, but as tobnpr says it's easier and better on the ground. I have added packing before in the water, but I wouldn't want to chance removing it all in the water in case something goes wrong. Also look at replacing the clamps on the hoses and inspect them as well. RonDDS had an incident with a hose clamp breaking and I agree with him that it's cheap insurance to replace them. The argument can be made to repack in the water or out, for my piece of mind I like it out of the water.
 
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