[C320-list] Rudder Maintenance

[Joe Geiger]

My rudder post looks fine but the holes that hold it have worn because the wheel brake was not applied for some period of time. This caused a very loud distressing thud in heavy following seas.  I was able to patch it by placing pieces of cut milk carton shims in the space where the post meets the hull and deck.  I did both the top and bottom and so far it seems to have fixed the problem.  

Repairing it the right way is a major project that requires the rudder to be dropped and the use of epoxy injected into holes in the rudder collar.  Catalina Direct sells the kit.  I’m going to see if my temporary fix works this season. If not, I’ll be ordering a kit and digging a hole to remove the rudder.

Be advised there are 2 rudder designs for the C320.  I got Warren at Catalina to send me the technical drawings.  The older one is the same as the C30.  The newer one uses Forespar parts and the play can easily be removed by tightening 2 bolts that keep pressure on the post. I have a 2000 #722 and it has the older version.  I think they switched designs sometime in the early 2000s.


Joe
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Joe Geiger
“Vega” Hull #722
Greenwich Cove, RI




> On Jun 9, 2020, at 3:40 PM, Joe Luciano <jnluciano at comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> 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