what to use for rudder stock bearing

[sv.antea]

Thanks for all the good advice. thanks Jimbunyard, too bad my rudder stock is only 1-1/4" dia (31.75mm). I will have to decide which way to go once I haul out and see how much room I have down there for a bushing and what is available.

[adjo]

I would suggest using UHMWPE (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene).

It is inexpensive and readily available, does NOT swell in water, is highly abrasion resistant and easily machined.

My rudder bearings are now over 30 years old and have never given any problems

[nortonscove]

Mine seemed to be made of Teflon when I replaced it a few years ago.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by sv.antea

Great, mine is #96, but insanely updated. Working on some more of my crazy updates right now. Sailed her twice to Europe, as far as Oslo the first time and Turkey the second.
Raced her a lot, with good results, recently often singlehanded. Exactly, very well behaved even in wild conditions, and a witch in light air ( I use some large sails.)

I too did a lot of single hand racing in my Y-30... and was quite successful at that endeavor. I think the reason was that the design was easy to sail to her rating solo... a sign of a good all-round design IMO.

So, what updates have you done? I sold mine in 1983 so any improvements that I did would not count as updates nowadays!

(sorry for the thread drift... just a good nostalgia hit!)

Jim