I have a 1967 33’ Rivera that is in need of new rudder assembles. My stuffing box has been leaking more that it should, and can’t be tightened because the threads have rusted right off. Has anyone out there ever replaced there’s? Are there prints available to bring to a machine shop or something? Also on material, can you use stainless or should I stick to mild steel? I do know that brass is a big no-no on our roamers but thinking stainless would be fine. Any help with this would greatly be appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:
I replaced a set on an aluminum roamer. I'm assuming your originals are steel (as were mine) and are pretty well shot in the area of the packing. I ended up cutting the rudder tubes off at the based of the lower jam nut which left approx 1 inch of threads (which were in good condition due to Al hull). Had a machine shop make a set of extensions which threaded onto the remaining threads on the rudder tubes (were tapered so had to go back for recut once). The upper male thread section was machined to fit a set of brass packing nuts I took off and old wood 'Chris or Owens I salvaged the nuts from. I torqued the adaptors down with a liberal amount of red or blue loctite. The rudders were cut to the profile and shaft length of the originals using a recip saw. I cant recall why but the rudders and nuts had to be salvaged from different boats and the rudder shafts were slightly smaller diameter than the nuts so I heated up a set of bronze bushings, slid them on the shafts, and had them turned down to size. This was not easy to do in the bilge of a 27' Comet. If I had a steel boat I'd cut the old rudder tubes out and welded in new ones. I'd also take my chances with brass rudders from and old woodie.
