Movement in the rudder

[HeaveToo]

The other ruddercraft question made me think of this.

If I tighten the rudder bolt too much it is hard to move it up and down.  If I set it to where I can move it up and down okay there is a lot of play in the rudder.

When you are steering there is this bump in the rudder.  It adds a lot of movement in the tiller that would be unnecessary if there wasn't any play in it. 

Do you all have play in your rudder?  If not, what do you do to eliminate this play?

I honestly think that the boat could be served by a rudder that doesn't lift up since the rudder sits higher than the keel. 

[brackish]

I haven't heard of any slop as a result of the rudder pivot bolt being too loose.  I can loosen my wing nut to the point that it is fairly loose and there is still no discernible play.  What folks have had problems with is worn pintle to gudgeon problems.  The gudgeons wear out creating slop in the joint.  If you do a search you'll find much information about rebuilding that joint with bronze inserts.

The problem I have with the current generation of the ComPac rudder system is not being able to keep the rudder down.  It used to pop up many times during a sail without contact with any solid object.  Primary problem was the lift handle tab sliding laterally until it was no longer trapped under the delrin plate, and it then let the rudder pop up about 10-15 degrees.  The first thing you notice is a significant increase in weather helm.  ComPac recommended that I bend the lift handle.  Hmm, making a precise bend on a 3/8" SS rod was not really a workable option.  I fixed the problem by doing this:

http://cpyoa.geekworkshosting.com/forum/index.php?topic=7267.0

[HeaveToo]

My issue doesn't seem to be in the gudgeons.  I will have to look at it more but I think that my pintles have been replaced at some point in the past.

[Bob23]

Heave:
  I've placed large nylon washers between the blade and the slot in the blade housing. This eliminates the slop.
Bob23- slop-free!

[kickingbug1]

    i did the same on my 16 and that cured the problem

[HeaveToo]

What size were the washers and where can I get some?  I had a thought that it may work if I did that.  Glad to know that it does work.

Previous boat, gudgeon story.  The bolts came out of the lower gudgeon while I was sailing.  It was blowing 20 knots and it caused all sorts of issues.  A friend gave me two replacement boats in the anchorage that night.  Friend helped me out big time there because it was right at the water level.  I later went back to the bolts and put them in with bigger backers and two lock washers.  That was the Hunter 22.  Since then I have been very mindful of stuff like this.

[Bob23]

I think I found 'em at Lowe's. I've heard of some guys using multiple "washers" cut out of plastic milk containers but I went with the real thing. I use nylon washers in other places, too. I overdrilled the holes in the aluminum plates that hold the tiller. Bought some thin washers with the ID the same as the bolt and the OD the same as the drilled out plate. This eliminates any wear that will take place between the stainless bolt and aluminum plate.
Bob23