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When is the last time you checked your gudgeons?

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jwilliams
Captain

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USA
357 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/29/2004 : 21:16:40

Hi all,

As many times as I have told others my experience with the Bolt-into-the-transom story (my rudder nearly fell off), I am guilty of not regularly checking my upgraded thru-transom bolts.

Friday on the way back to Brisbane from a nice afternoon sailing around Angel Island in company with my Buddy Paul, I noticed a peculiar feeling in the rudder. Back at the marina I checked and to my surprise saw the lower gudgeon moving back an forth an 1/8 in. Clearly, the bolts were loose.

So, next week I'll pull the rudder (needs a anti fouling job anyway), rebed the gudgeon and backer plate and tighten that sucker down again.

We have to remember, under sail or power the lower gudgeon is submerged. I did not have time to see how much water is in the bilge.

Jim Williams
Hey Jude C25fk 2958
SF Bay

Edited by - on

Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2004 : 21:46:10

Timely post for me...I ordered new pintles and gudgeons from CD last week.

Steve

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2004 : 21:46:14

A couple friends on the bow and you can do it in the slip, the gudgeon is out of the water normally.

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gnorgan
Admiral

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USA
563 Posts

Response Posted - 09/04/2004 : 01:09:45

Looked at the lower gudgeon last time at the slip and the lower pintel looked real loose, as in maybe the weld is breaking loose.
Ordered top and bottom pintels and gudgeons after work today from CD.
Ordered the reinforced gudgeon with the delrin bushings.
Thanks for the heads up....

As to getting the stern out of the water, I think I will just load up the big ice chest with ice, beer, and food and set it in the V Berth

Edited by - gnorgan on 09/04/2004 01:10:34

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 09/04/2004 : 10:23:17

"big ice chest with ice, beer, and food and set it in the V Berth"

Better be a big one... remember that to tighten the bolts on the lower gudgeon you need to have an inside helper crawl way up inside the aft quarterberth..

Find somebody who weighs less than your icechest! ;>)

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 09/04/2004 : 10:49:50

I had that sloppy feeling in the rudder once in a race on Lake Superior - Winds 15-20 mph on the nose. Asked my crew to check it out for me. When he looked back at me his eyes were like saucers (he's raced several Port Huron to Mackinaw races on a North American 40 - sigh). Anyway, the rudder was bent in half at about a 60 degree angle. During a storm the previous week the rudder apparently bottomed out on my mooring, and cracked internally. The damage was not visible from the outside though. This was during the infamous low water years of the mid-1990's to 2000. I stayed in the race by sailing with as little pressure on the sails/rudder as possible until we were able to start the downwind/home-bound leg. With no pressure on the rudder we let her rip and passed four competitors. Except for the sloppy feel GALLIVANT steered fine. I now have the "new" ballanced rudder - with mixed emotions.

Note - this is the same year my boat was struck by lighting. Fortunately I hve very good insurance.

Al
GALLIVANT #5801

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SteveG
1st Mate

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51 Posts

Response Posted - 09/06/2004 : 10:52:41

Where did you get the balanced rudder? Is there a good supplier that has them available? I'm thinking of upgrading to one for next season.

Thanks,

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 09/06/2004 : 11:21:46

I replaced my gudgeons with the upgraded ones from Catalina Direct. They are very sturdy and well built. I used 5/16" machine bolts to attach them, instead of the original 1/4" stove bolts. I had to install a beckson access plate in the transom in the cockpit to access the back of the gudgeon. I bought my balanced rudder directly from the Catalina parts department. Beware that there are three different balanced rudder sizes available. Take careful measurements. I'm not sure why there are three sizes, but there are, the first one I got was the wrong size, even though I sent them measurements from my old cracked and split rudder. So they paid the freight to replace it, and for my trouble, they threw in a new tiller and heavy duty plates.
Let's see Hunter match that for keeping customers happy.

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.