[C320-list] Rudder Maintenance

[Joe Luciano]

I’m curious among longer term owners of C-320’s if any of you have done any inspection / maintenance of your rudder post, bearings, etc.  I don’t have any problems with my rudder currently, but on my haul outs, while I’ve looked over the rudder, I’ve never had a reason to drop it for inspection or any type of preventative work.  I’ve tightened the cable system to take play out of the wheel once, but that’s about it.  Since I’m prone to do preventative work for items that could sneak up and bite me while on a trip, am I missing anything here?  My rudder acts about the same today as it did the first day I put it in the water 15 years ago.  I sail inland waters north of Seattle and not offshore in my 320.  The one time I sailed to Hawaii from the west coast on another boat, we dropped the rudder just to insure it was in top condition before setting off on a 2500 mile trip.  Just interested in what others have done.

Joe Luciano
2005 C-320
#1024