Rudder Post Stuffing Box

[C Skemp]

Hi All,

This is my first post to the group. I am the very happy new owner of hull #084, Balandra Rose. She is currently in Rhode Island, but once I get her launched I will be sailing her up to her new home waters in Rockport, Maine. 

My first question has to do with the rudder post stuffing box. Could someone share what the size of the shaft packing is? I am remote from the boat and didn't measure before heading home yesterday. Working to gather correct parts before my next trip down. 

The back story is that I discovered that after sitting on the hard for a couple of years the rudder post was frozen to the stuffing box. Trying to turn the wheel was twisting the rubber hose. I removed the quadrant so that I could back the nut off the body of the stuffing box so I could get some penetrating fluid down in there. The rudder is now free. But, rather than just repack the stuffing box, I am also considering dropping the rudder down far enough to change out the rubber hose and clean up the post. I am open to any and all input. 

Image attached of everything before disassembly. 

Best, 

Carter

Rockport, Maine

[C Skemp]

Just an update:That was quite a project! The stuffing box was seriously frozen on the rudder post. It took 2 days of fighting to get it free. I ended up creating a system where I would lift the rudder up 1/2" or so, rest it's weight on a wooden blocks between the stuffing box and the fiberglass surrounding the cutlass bearing, grab the stuffing box in a pipe wrench, then rotate the rudder back and forth. This movement combined with the weight of the rudder would move the stuffing box. Anyway, after all taken apart, cleaned up and reassembled a few notes: 

The bronze pin at the bottom of the rudder is 7/8" diameter and ~4.5" long. Getting it out was near impossible. Had to drill and tap in order to get a 1/4-20 bolt up there to allow something to grab it to pull it down. This pin was/is in great shape. 
The stuffing box utilizes 1/4" packing. To redo this without all the other fun will still require the quadrant to be removed as there is not enough room between the stuffing box and quadrant to repack the stuffing box. 

Here it is all cleaned up with a new stuffing box hose: (one more clamp was installed after the photo was taken) 

[Win Winthrop]

Good Job, I did this on our 40 Mother ocean a few years ago,  I hope you put grease on all threads since all you can do now is tighten as needed,

Next we need to replace the deadlights in main cabin,

Best to all,  Win and son Gillan Yerkes.

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