Rudder Shimming

Hi, All. A number of good solutions to rudder play have been presented. I'm tempted to try the tape. Here are some notes on the coke bottle shim approach. First off, you have to drop the rudder down. On some models (the CAL 25 for sure), the boat has to blocked up a foot at the keel bottom to allow the rudder to come out all the way. I always do that for sanding and painting purposes. For the shim addition, it does not have to come out all the way. Take a 2 liter Coke plastic bottle (note that thicknesses of such bottles vary by brand) and cut out the smooth part in the middle (that is, cut off the top and bottom of the bottle (box cutter works well, but also does fingers well). What you want to end up with is a smooth plastic rectangle that is about 6-7" high and as wide as the circumference of you rudder post minus a 1/2" to an 1" (about 2.5 to 3 times the diameter). This piece of plastic should not fold over itself when wrapped around the rudder post. The finished shim is simply wrapped around the rubber post and fed upward as the you slide the rudder back in. Depending on shaft length, it might take two of the shims. Just keep a hand around the shim (maybe with some back and forth rotation) to slide it up as the rudder slides upward. I am assuming that one cleaned the old grease off the post. The plastic shim should be placed over the rudder post before it is greased and then grease goes on the outside of the shim and on the exposed parts of the post. It is easier if you already have the post inserted into shaft a couple inches. I keep some pieces of wood to put under the rudder base to take the weight of the rudder as I gradually raise it into the shaft. It is easier with two people, especially since one of them will have greasy hands (or at least greasy nitrile gloves). If the shim is too tight a fit, cut in in half vertically so that it is filling in only half the rudder shaft. If too loose, double up on the shim (but that would sure be a lot of play). I hope this rambling makes some sense. Cheers Charlie

I have never greased my rudder shaft...Who else does this on a 25? To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com From: hu… [at] bah.com Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2010 13:15:37 -0400 Subject: [Cal_Boats] Rudder Shimming Hi, All. A number of good solutions to rudder play have been presented. I'm tempted to try the tape. Here are some notes on the coke bottle shim approach. First off, you have to drop the rudder down. On some models (the CAL 25 for sure), the boat has to blocked up a foot at the keel bottom to allow the rudder to come out all the way. I always do that for sanding and painting purposes. For the shim addition, it does not have to come out all the way. Take a 2 liter Coke plastic bottle (note that thicknesses of such bottles vary by brand) and cut out the smooth part in the middle (that is, cut off the top and bottom of the bottle (box cutter works well, but also does fingers well). What you want to end up with is a smooth plastic rectangle that is about 6-7" high and as wide as the circumference of you rudder post minus a 1/2" to an 1" (about 2.5 to 3 times the diameter). This piece of plastic should not fold over itself when wrapped around the rudder post. The finished shim is simply wrapped around the rubber post and fed upward as the you slide the rudder back in. Depending on shaft length, it might take two of the shims. Just keep a hand around the shim (maybe with some back and forth rotation) to slide it up as the rudder slides upward. I am assuming that one cleaned the old grease off the post. The plastic shim should be placed over the rudder post before it is greased and then grease goes on the outside of the shim and on the exposed parts of the post. It is easier if you already have the post inserted into shaft a couple inches. I keep some pieces of wood to put under the rudder base to take the weight of the rudder as I gradually raise it into the shaft. It is easier with two people, especially since one of them will have greasy hands (or at least greasy nitrile gloves). If the shim is too tight a fit, cut in in half vertically so that it is filling in only half the rudder shaft. If too loose, double up on the shim (but that would sure be a lot of play). I hope this rambling makes some sense. Cheers Charlie

George, just about everybody I know in this area. I use white lithium, but I'm sure there are other options. When one has good tight shimming on the post, the grease helps a lot. Cheers Charlie From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of george macon Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 1:22 PM To: ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [Cal_Boats] Rudder Shimming also Greased Rudder Shaft I have never greased my rudder shaft...Who else does this on a 25? To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com From: hu… [at] bah.com Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2010 13:15:37 -0400 Subject: [Cal_Boats] Rudder Shimming Hi, All. A number of good solutions to rudder play have been presented. I'm tempted to try the tape. Here are some notes on the coke bottle shim approach. First off, you have to drop the rudder down. On some models (the CAL 25 for sure), the boat has to blocked up a foot at the keel bottom to allow the rudder to come out all the way. I always do that for sanding and painting purposes. For the shim addition, it does not have to come out all the way. Take a 2 liter Coke plastic bottle (note that thicknesses of such bottles vary by brand) and cut out the smooth part in the middle (that is, cut off the top and bottom of the bottle (box cutter works well, but also does fingers well). What you want to end up with is a smooth plastic rectangle that is about 6-7" high and as wide as the circumference of you rudder post minus a 1/2" to an 1" (about 2.5 to 3 times the diameter). This piece of plastic should not fold over itself when wrapped around the rudder post. The finished shim is simply wrapped around the rubber post and fed upward as the you slide the rudder back in. Depending on shaft length, it might take two of the shims. Just keep a hand around the shim (maybe with some back and forth rotation) to slide it up as the rudder slides upward. I am assuming that one cleaned the old grease off the post. The plastic shim should be placed over the rudder post before it is greased and then grease goes on the outside of the shim and on the exposed parts of the post. It is easier if you already have the post inserted into shaft a couple inches. I keep some pieces of wood to put under the rudder base to take the weight of the rudder as I gradually raise it into the shaft. It is easier with two people, especially since one of them will have greasy hands (or at least greasy nitrile gloves). If the shim is too tight a fit, cut in in half vertically so that it is filling in only half the rudder shaft. If too loose, double up on the shim (but that would sure be a lot of play). I hope this rambling makes some sense. Cheers Charlie