Seastar

[Russ Calasant]

Has anyone replaced the seastar hydraulic steering ram on an inboard? Mine is leaking fluid. I purchased a new one however the “block” that mounts to the rudder plate - see brass mounting block in pic, has 4 bolts the two on the left side are threaded and are removable. The two on the right side appear to be thru bolted to the support bar for the rudder. This opens up a can of worms. The bolts that appear to be holding the support bar look as if they are screwed into the stringers on either side however when you try to unbolt them they just spin as if they are through bolted. And I’m not sure if removing them would help as it appears I would need to loosen the collar on the rudder. And I’m assuming that if I do it will drop the rudder out leaving a hole in the boat! If this is the case why would SR build it this way? 4 bolts and this thing should come off - simple! I don’t get it!

 

[bmac]

Russ, I’m launching tomorrow and will take a look at mine. I believe mine is bolted into the stringer at all four bolts.

 

[ttmott]

View attachment 84500 Has anyone replaced the seastar hydraulic steering ram on an inboard? Mine is leaking fluid. I purchased a new one however the “block” that mounts to the rudder plate - see brass mounting block in pic, has 4 bolts the two on the left side are threaded and are removable. The two on the right side appear to be thru bolted to the support bar for the rudder. This opens up a can of worms. The bolts that appear to be holding the support bar look as if they are screwed into the stringers on either side however when you try to unbolt them they just spin as if they are through bolted. And I’m not sure if removing them would help as it appears I would need to loosen the collar on the rudder. And I’m assuming that if I do it will drop the rudder out leaving a hole in the boat! If this is the case why would SR build it this way? 4 bolts and this thing should come off - simple! I don’t get it!

Isn't there a plastic access plug on the side of the stringer to get to the nut on the back side of the two bolts?
Hollow Stringer... In the below pic you can see one of the plugs for the other side of the rudder support strut (52DB).

 

[Russ Calasant]

View attachment 84543
Isn't there s plastic access plug on the side of the stringer to get to the nut on the back side of the two bolts?
Hollow Stringer... In the below pic you can see one of the plugs for the other side of the rudder support strut (52DB).
View attachment 84543

Bingo! Thank you!! Couldn’t see them and didn’t even think of it - how simple. I knew it couldn’t possibly be that complicated! Thanks so much for your help- took about 10 minutes or so and it’s in.