ODay rudder repair

[dinky]

I''m looking at an old Oday(18 feet?)to learn on this summer. The boat looks okay to a newbie except that the rudder shaft-to-hull fit is sloppy. I''ve read all the discussions on buying and learning, so if I went ahead and bought this boat that needs repair, can anyone tell me what''s involved in repairing it? And where do I find parts?

[paulk]

Many things could be causing a sloppy rudder shaft, and some are easier to fix than others. You might just need new bearings (bushings) for the rudder shaft, and be able to fabricate them out of some nylon washers or shims for about 50cents and a Saturday afternoon. The shaft could also be worn to the point that it needs replacing - a bit more of a chore. Depending upon how the steering is put together, you may be getting that wobbly feeling because the tube that the rudder shaft runs through might be cracked or detatched from the underside of the deck. This would need to be re-fiberglassed - not a big deal, but a bit messy, and it might need repainting afterwards, depending upon how visible it is. The best thing would be to have someone you trust who knows about boat repair look it over and give you an estimate to fix it. You can then lower your offering price by that (or some other suitable amount), and sail off happily. Any offer should be subject to survey, and your surveyor might have some ideas on repair costs as well.

[dinky]

Thanks Paul, I think I will go back and take a closer look.