Skeg mounted rudder seized

[renbluefish]

I have a 1980 Kalik 44 that i got in Oct.09. She has been sitting on the hard
for the last 15 years. Its a project of a lifetime. My question is: The skeg mounted rudder is froze or seized at the bottom bearing (there is a bearing there?) and it looks as if the rudder is pinched. Gap between top of rudder and skeg no gap at bottom. I want to remove rudder and refit. I cannot find a diagram of exploded parts to get an idea of where to start. There is a stainless elbow on the bottom of the skeg that holds the bottom of the rudder and bearing (?) thought of removing but... Would appreciate any information have been all over the web but no hits.
Thanks all for everything i have learned reading this forum.

[WanderingStar]

Try this question in the Gear and Maintenance section. Good luck

[JohnRPollard]

Originally Posted by renbluefish

I have a 1980 Kalik 44 that i got in Oct.09. She has been sitting on the hard
for the last 15 years. Its a project of a lifetime. My question is: The skeg mounted rudder is froze or seized at the bottom bearing (there is a bearing there?) and it looks as if the rudder is pinched. Gap between top of rudder and skeg no gap at bottom. I want to remove rudder and refit. I cannot find a diagram of exploded parts to get an idea of where to start. There is a stainless elbow on the bottom of the skeg that holds the bottom of the rudder and bearing (?) thought of removing but... Would appreciate any information have been all over the web but no hits.
Thanks all for everything i have learned reading this forum.

Hi, Welcome to Sailnet!

I'm not familiar with your boat, so it's a bit hard to offer meaningful advice based solely on your description. When you reach 10 posts, you will be able to post-up photos, which would help us all to visualize the problem better.

But based on your description, it sounds like your boat may have a had a hard grounding at one point that bent the rudder stock. Possibly while going astern.

You may need to remove the gudgeon (what you call the "stainless elbow") at the base of the skeg and drop the rudder for inspection. (Incidentally, that gudgeon is more than likely made of bronze --- it would be unusual in my experience to see one made from stainless.) By doing this, you will also find whether there is a bearing there (or not) and what condition it is in.

Hopefully some other folks will chime in with their opinions. You may also want to hire a professional to inspect the rudder and give you a plan of corrective action, if you don't want them to repair it for you.

P.S. I'm moving this thread to Gear & Maintenance for better visibility.

[sailingdog]

JRD—

I'd think that if the rudder is skeg hung, that the bottom piece would be a rudder shoe, not a gudgeon, since this rudder is likely not pintle hung.

[JohnRPollard]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

JRD—

I'd think that if the rudder is skeg hung, that the bottom piece would be a rudder shoe, not a gudgeon, since this rudder is likely not pintle hung.

SD,

I've seen the term "rudder gudgeon" used in different contexts, sometimes interchangeably with "rudder shoe".

At any rate, "rudder gudgeon" is the term which the designer and builder of our boat give to that piece of hardware. You can see it described in the drawing of the skeg/rudder arrangement on the 5th or 6th page of this brochure:

http://www.cruisingyachtsinc.com/31lr.pdf

[docket]

Six bolts on the bottom and it comes off in your hand. I had to remove it on mine.