worn out gudgeon. can it be repaired?

[ramble on]

my 23/3 has a lower gudgeon that is out of round. has anyone fixed this with filling, redrilling and a bushing or filling (epoxy and aluminum filler) and redrilling?

thanks,

Ramble On

[Craig Weis]

Well Ramble, posted and pictured within this site is how I repaired the gudgeon holes on my C-P 19. I did this as I installed a IdaSailor rudder. That was the best thing I did for Comfort & Joy.

Remove the entire cast aluminum unit from the transom, line bore both holes, press in a bushing, use three flat washers between both moving surfaces and one washer beneath each bolthead. Slather up the moving pieces with lots of Never Seize, and assemble with enough tension that resistance is felt when moving the tiller.

All parts came from my Ace Hardware store. Works great. skip.

[mike gartland]

Sounds like a great solution...both the new bushing and the foil rudder.  I need to make the same modification to my CP-23.  One question:  what exactly is meant by "line bore" and what tools/equipment are needed to accomplish it?

[Craig Weis]

Another late post, but for me line bore is simply placing the cast aluminum piece into my hugh vice [that I found after a railroad roundhouse fire] and redrilling both holes with one drill bit at the same time.

I had to go to ACE and rent the 48" long drill bit. I forget the size but it would not go into the bore but would slip into the SS washers I selected for my repair job. The sleeves are gently pressed into place after a few seconds of sanding with very fine sandpaper to make them fit. These are stainless steel. As is everthing else. The ss won't ware as fast as the cast aluminum, well I hope. skip. Somewhere I have a post on removing the casting from the transom and powder coating it with hammer tone gray. Skip.

[seabulz]

The IDA rudder? I have seen a couple of posts on this but don't know any more than the vague pictures folks have attached and that it is supposed to improve windward performance. Could you enlighten those of us still in the shadows of unknowing? Or how about just me?

[Paul]

A search on "Idasailor rudder" will bring a treasure trove of information.  Also, you can find them on the web.  Basically, it's a foil rudder specifically made for a specific model of boat.  Not only do they make them for a variety of Com-Pacs, but also for others.  This more balanced foil rudder is much more efficient, "feels" better, and has less drag when tacking the boat.  In a nut-shell, it's the best single upgrade one can make to a Com-Pac.  The flat aluminum plate basically acts as a break when tacking.

Happy reading.