J42 Rudder Stuffing Box To Gaiter Upgrade

[Bill Bowers]

[Bill Bowers]

Very pleased with improved steering on ConverJence after inverting the rudder stuffing ring, eliminating packing and adding a 5” x 1/4” biaxial cloth epoxy sleeve formed over a cardboard Sonotube. 

Also upgraded rudder upper to Jefa sperical roller self aligning bearing. 

Replaced all Whitlock pedestal bearings and blasted and repowder coated pedestal. 

Amazing improvement. 

Bill Bowers

#3

[Dennis Boyd]

Wow, that is impressive.   Ok,  get with Owen, make a kit.   Make history

Dennis

[Bill Bowers]

On Sat, Jul 4, 2026 at 8:15 AM Bill Bowers <wfb0...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Bill Bowers]

So how many stuffing box J4xs are there?

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[David Haller]

Along the same line J 42 2000 J. Belles, auto pilot . how come the steering is so heavy and hard 

David J Haller

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[Bill Bowers]

Hi David

If you unbolt the pilot ram does that reduce the stiffness? 

If not you likely have a siezed lower bearing. I dug a hole in my side yard and lowered the rudder with a 8’ 2x4 lashed on blocks against the pushpit to carry snatch blocks for lines from a rope rudder basket to the primary winches. 

Jefa says lower bearings should be fresh water flushed when the boat is hauled and serviced every few years. 

Best

Bill

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[Bill Bowers]

Also, if your 2000 J42 was still built with a stuffing box, you may have it overtightened so the packing has too much squeeze.

That and leakage with following seas was why we upgraded to the gaiter. 

Best

Bill

On Sat, Jul 4, 2026 at 9:19 AM David Haller <dhal...@gmail.com> wrote:

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