Stiff rudder on Bavaria 41, 2004

[Boaterbob]

This has been increasing for several years, gradually. Now turning is getting difficult so action is needed. Emailed SVB and they said to talk to a local yard. Anyone been through this rudder service? Is it possible to just remove and clean the bearing or does it need replacement? Two man job? Drop the rudder and lubricate the bearing? With what?
Thanks in advance,
Bob

[skipjohnsen]

Hello,

Reading in a German Forum, it could be a problem with the lower bearing.

To find the real cause you might have to go on the hard and take off the rudder.

In the mentioned cases the had to rework the lower bearing because it was to tight.
Of course you can get a new one from Bavaria.

Good Luck

[goboatingnow]

The problem is the bottom bearing is a plastic ball it sits in a aluminium housing and this is glassed into the hull.

What then happens is copper based anti fouling gets slapped on in the area and the reaction with the housing causes aluminium oxide to build between the ball and the housing This squeezes the ball and begins to jam the rudder

In the short term inject some olive oil into the rudder tube gasket tube.

Longer term the rudder may need dropping , ball removed and the housing cleaned down

Use only aluminium compatible antifouling in the are all around the bearing housing in future.

[Rumrace]

Copper or zinc based paint will eat aluminum.

[ItDepends]

Originally Posted by Rumrace

Copper or zinc based paint will eat aluminum.

Half right. Paints with copper will attack Al.

Zinc however most certainly IS comparable with Al, and many Al compatible paints use zinc biocides.

Of course not ALL paint containing zinc are Al safe. Maybe that’s the source of your confusion.

[ItDepends]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

In the short term inject some olive oil into the rudder tube gasket tube.

If you do try this, it should be for the VERY short term. Olive oil will pretty quite quickly oxidize when exposed to air, and turn into a sticky, gummy, collection of fatty acids that will make the problem worse.

It the best case it will run out and disappear before this happens.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by ItDepends

If you do try this, it should be for the VERY short term. Olive oil will pretty quite quickly oxidize when exposed to air, and turn into a sticky, gummy, collection of fatty acids that will make the problem worse.



It the best case it will run out and disappear before this happens.

I am directly attest injecting olive oil on a season cures the tightness and has no bad effect. Great stuff.

The key point despite some social media myths. Is there is nothing wrong with a lower Bavaria bearing generally it’s good for decades of service.

[allendick]

I used ATF and penetrating oil. Worked well for a year or two on my 2005 42 Cruiser, but eventually the rudder had to be dropped. Depending on your budget and the condition of the bearing housing, you may be able to simply hone or sand out the bearing to get sufficient clearance, but the yard will likely want to do something more drastic.

Word s that some replacement bearings will simply swell in future like the original and that there are some that won't.

On both my 42 and my 50, the lower bearings were replaced and, I think, the housing. I was not able to be on-site and had to rely on advice. Neither was cheap.

If things are sound, I'd suggest trying the hone.