[Sackettbw]

Does anyone have step by step information for removing an O'Day 31 Rudder? I have a 1985 model. The rudder has water in it and I want to seal around the rudder post. Thanks!

 

[deniseO30]

need a pic but do you have edson cable steering? If so you need to remove the cables from the quadrant, unbolt the quadrant. and remove the single bolt that goes through the hub of quadrant and the post. This is all that holds it up. At least that's the way it is on my O30. You will also find most of the water is condensation dripping into the top of the post.

 

[nauticalrich]

I've got the same boat and Denise is correct.
I also have the same problem with salt water in the rudder.
Thinking about mixing a little epoxy sealer or something like the west marine stuff of which I can't think of right now, putting it into one of those plastic suringes and shooting into the post area. Maybe it will work itself in.

Good luck

 

[Flfishindude]

How would you know you had water in the rudder?

 

[deniseO30]

Hey Rich,
we've drilled a few holes in mine at the bottom every year to drain/dry it out. The upper post on mine is under a new watertight 4" round acess plate. It still gets water in it. I think a plug in the post itself may help. I can't help but wonder if filling the post with foam would be a good idea. I see no reason for it be hollow otherwise.

 

[nauticalrich]

You know you have water in the rudder when it starts to drip out. Of course it's on the hard. Taste it and if salty you know where it came from.

 

[nauticalrich]

Denise, I am confused.
I believe the rudder post is solid. It then goes through a hollow tube in the boat and ends up under the cockpit seat with a round plate. The plate is there to enable you to get to the emergency steering.

 

[nauticalrich]

Denise, I looked at your profile. You own a heating and AC business.
Have you ever heard of NAOHSM, National Association of Oil Heat Service Mangers Assoc.

 

[deniseO30]

The rudder post on mine is hollow. like a pipe, only stainless.

Hey Rich, I'm not in pro fuel oil we've done a few installs over the years. so I'm not familiar with the fuel oil biz organizations. I think the largest oil fired boiler we ever did was fired at 12gal an hr. But! I have to buy oil for my house too! My biz is/was mostly gas, heat pumps and ac. With some commerical refrig because it's fun. (like the walk in box at my YC) not!

 

[nauticalrich]

Just curious as I will be at a trade show in Hershey PA.


See ya

 

[nauticalrich]

So where are we now on the rudder?

This is also a test of my signature.

 

[deniseO30]

the OP asks questions allot but never responds after.

 

[sailingcal21]

I documented the R&R of my O'Day 34's rudder. The pictures are at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/odayowners/photos/album/1499613179/pic/list

 

[deniseO30]

Hey scott! nice pics! even the rudder work!

looks like my boat even! cept yours is a 34.. amazing how Odays all look very alike!

 

[sailingcal21]

Based on your discussions, it sounded like the construction of a 31's rudder would be similar a 34's which is why I thought to share the info. I concluded that Karma's rudder didn't have signficant rusting of the metal and that the rudder was not waterlogged so elected to fill the tubes with the foam then to patch and fill the rudder.

 

[Sackettbw]

Denise.. you hit on a problem I've been having. The area around my emergency tiller is wet most of the time. I replaced and very thoroughly sealed the access port, but it still gets wet. I worry about the core around the post. Are you seeing the same thing? Anyone else? What's the fix?

 

[sailingcal21]

Brian, I've placed Karma's rudder removal photos on my Webshots album @ Karma O'Day 34 Rudder Work pictures from sailing photos on webshots
Figured that I'd post this site as well in case others can't get to the odayowners group on Yahoo. Lemme know if that works for you.

Scott

 

[Flfishindude]

Hello all, I really appreciate all the info that you have listed here. I don't know how I would have ever thought of or received the info. Our project is coming along and are presently redoing the wiring and then it will be time to put everything back in place. I sure wish that I had taken before and during pictures early in the project. The teak is turning out as good as new, we are thrilled and look forward to actually being able to use her. Thanks to all for the info. Still would sure like to have a copy of the owners manual.

Rick & Donna

 

[deniseO30]

Yes, the rudder post under the emergency tiller access is exposed plywood but, if you look from the underside you will realize that the plywood was just some sort of backing for the substantial fiberglass cockpit liner and rudder tube. I think the only way to eliminate the condensation is have some type of vented cover. or some small vents on cockpit liner near the top of the em tiller access. I've not done that yet and still have a new water tight 4" round cover plate. it literally rains condensation down into the rudder post! One day I'll vent it somehow and also saturate the plywood with low visc epoxy. I do not think the loss of that plywood would weaken the tube structure.

 

[sailingcal21]

"... I sure wish that I had taken before and during pictures early in the project. ..."

For me a digital camera is one of the best tools that I have. The film and cost of developing it has really come down to almost nothing

Karma and I are separated by about 100 miles so the pics allow me to plan better. Before I bought Karma about 4 years ago, I crawled all over her from bow to stern and took well over 100 pictures documenting almost everything, I wish that I had taken more. I find myself constantly referring to them.

Scott