Steering Rusted Out

[Rumrace]

I’d soak the aluminum in some drain fluid diluted navel jelly on the steel and knock it apart. The shaft might need repair but a new quadrant would be perfect

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by HeywoodJ

Very hard to tell just from photos, but it looks like the components, including the upper shaft collar, are bronze, but the upper support/bearing is mild still and rusted to nothing.

I doubt very much if that collar is bronze as it shows no indication of verdigris and Irwin is not know for high quality materials as clealy indicated by that corroded steel support plate.

Regardless of the materials, that iron oxide from that plate constantly dripping on the collar, quadrant and the stock is a recipe for significant galvanic corrosion (or crevice corrosion if the stock is ss). I simply would not trust that rudder stock and would not attempt an in water repair unless the collar & quadrant can be removed for close inspection of those two parts and the stock.

[Rumrace]

Listen to Boatpoker he’s bang on.
Get her in a cradle with room to lower the rudder out.

[RaymondR]

I would not get carried away with rebuilding the entire system until you remove the steel part and clean up the rest of it and am able to give it a close visual inspection. As the previous owner of a steel boat I am very conscious of how nasty a bit of rust can make a minor problem appear.

[hpeer]

FWIW,
I have 2 steel boats, I am getting to know rust.
Chances are it is worse than it looks.
Do as Boatpoker says, it is sage advice.

[RaymondR]

Originally Posted by hpeer

FWIW,
I have 2 steel boats, I am getting to know rust.
Chances are it is worse than it looks.
Do as Boatpoker says, it is sage advice.

That might be the case if it was all steel and not brass and S steel.