Rudder casing and drilling for bushes

I am redoing the rudders so got some of the plastic bushes and new rudder pins..

Trouble is the plastic bushes do not fit my rudder cases..

My boat is an early 90's Australian boat...

Should I drill out the casing a mm or so so that I can fit the plastic bushes?

iF not I guess I just have to live with a little play in the rudders.

I'm not sure it matters that your boat is Australian. I believe all the rudder bushing kits require one to drill the lower casting. The trouble is that the casting is line bored and you need to drill fairly accurately to keep the rudder pin aligned. I'm not sure how one would do that outside of a machine shop.

Hey there,

I redid my whole rudder setup, gudgeons, washers, cams and SS pins, what a difference! It's like steering a whole different boat! I had massive weather helm and I would get arm cramps, now I have just a tiny touch of weather helm and smooth, easy steering. I did also adjust the rudder rake and toe in at the same time too.

I added the bushings also, but didn't use a press without any I'll effects that I noticed. It was tough though to get the SS pins through the gudgeons without using a mallet, so maybe that is a side effect? Dunno but it sails great now and my cams work like new.

Good luck!

Blair

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Blair T

I love these calm moments before the storm, it reminds me of Beethoven...


'02 Hobie Tiger USA 1152

Hi,
I also ordered the plastic bushings but they did not come with instructions, so I'm wondering WHERE to place them. The pack had 8 pieces, so do I use 2 on the gudgeons and 2 on the castings? I can see drilling out the aluminum castings to get them to fit, but do you also drill the gudgeons?!? Do you put one in the top portion of the casting, using 3 per casting?
Thanks,
David

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David

I replaced the rudder pins at the same time as adding the cast gudgeons and they fit in snuggly. I drilled out the top part of the rudder casting and slipped in a bushing and also the bottom of the rudder and put one in upside down. Seemed to have worked nicely. Maybe they give 8 in case you'd like to keep your gudgeons and drill them out as well? 4 per side?

_________________
Blair T

I love these calm moments before the storm, it reminds me of Beethoven...


'02 Hobie Tiger USA 1152