Free...
I am fairly confident that the rudder head flange will come off. I was more concerned about getting it back on there so that it does not fret again. You can see the steering head at the top of the rudder post here....
Image of WK Union 36 worm-gear steering - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
This fretting is an old (albeit high-speed) problem on motorcycle shaft drives, and it is not easy to stop it wearing worse without constant re-greasing.
It puzzles me, as on the prop shaft of the ship, there is no way that flange is going to fret on there... it is rock solid with a big lock bolt on it.
I guess this is the penalty paid for the steering head flange going on there easily in situ at time of assembly... it never is quite locked in service, as there must be assembly clearances, and fretting breeds more fretting, it seems.
It is getting slowly worse, and it eats at your confidence.
I really cannot lose steering on that ship, as I will not be able to hold her without that rudder, and there is no aux steering facility...
Image of Crinan Canal Summer 2007 - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Rockter.