RE: [Cal_Boats] Rudder Lubrication

Hi, Woody. I found that WD-40 is a good grease remover. No nipples in a CAL 25 rig. We just drop the rudder. Then there is the coke bottle shimming method if needed. As a side note, we also remove rudders if we are doing winter storage (a lot of 25s stay in the water for Frostbite racing here in Annapolis - but some get pulled). Don't know how one would get water out of the rudder tube (flip the boat over?) with rudder installed. We have rudders freeze and explode, so owners take the rudders home for storage. Was thinking that filling the rudder tube with closed cell foam might work against the water incursion problem? Cheers Charlie Annapolis, MD From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Ellwood Jones Sent: Saturday, August 19, 2006 12:32 PM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: [Cal_Boats] Rudder Lubrication What's the best way to grease the rudder? Drop the rudder lube and reinstall? There's a nipple on the aft side of the shaft tube probably about 1/2". I envision a mess with grease dripping off my elboes trying to squirt it in there. Anyone rig up something clever to get grease in there? Any recommendatons on cleaning the rudder shaft of the old sticky buildup? Thanks, Woody Cal-34

Hi Charlie, Thanks for the tips! I plan on doing this during my bottom painting next week. So at least I don't have to worry about the boat sinking! Regards, Woody Cal-34 #36 Hi, Woody. I found that WD-40 is a good grease remover. No nipples in a CAL 25 rig. We just drop the rudder. Then there is the coke bottle shimming method if needed. As a side note, we also remove rudders if we are doing winter storage (a lot of 25s stay in the water for Frostbite racing here in Annapolis - but some get pulled). Don't know how one would get water out of the rudder tube (flip the boat over?) with rudder installed. We have rudders freeze and explode, so owners take the rudders home for storage. Was thinking that filling the rudder tube with closed cell foam might work against the water incursion problem? Cheers Charlie Annapolis, MD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Ellwood Jones Sent: Saturday, August 19, 2006 12:32 PM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: [Cal_Boats] Rudder Lubrication What's the best way to grease the rudder? Drop the rudder lube and reinstall? There's a nipple on the aft side of the shaft tube probably about 1/2". I envision a mess with grease dripping off my elboes trying to squirt it in there. Anyone rig up something clever to get grease in there? Any recommendatons on cleaning the rudder shaft of the old sticky buildup? Thanks, Woody Cal-34

did that. it helps. however, I'm told most water goes in around the fiberglass/rudderpost joint at the top of the rudder. hard to seal. I take mine home and let it sleep the winter under the guest bed! I've thought about drilling and taping the bottom of the rudder for a 1/4 pipe plug. open to drain each fall and leave open all winter. I've also thought of installing a similar plug in the top of the rudder and attempting to displace water with antifreeze. inhibits corrosion. prevents freezing ans splitting of rudder Reggie >From: "Husar Charlie" <hu… [at] bah.com> >Reply-To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com >To: <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> >Subject: RE: [Cal_Boats] Rudder Lubrication >Date: Sun, 20 Aug 2006 09:43:19 -0400 > >Hi, Woody. I found that WD-40 is a good grease remover. No nipples in >a CAL 25 rig. We just drop the rudder. Then there is the coke bottle >shimming method if needed. > >As a side note, we also remove rudders if we are doing winter storage (a >lot of 25s stay in the water for Frostbite racing here in Annapolis - >but some get pulled). Don't know how one would get water out of the >rudder tube (flip the boat over?) with rudder installed. We have >rudders freeze and explode, so owners take the rudders home for storage. > >Was thinking that filling the rudder tube with closed cell foam might >work against the water incursion problem? > >Cheers >Charlie >Annapolis, MD > >________________________________ > >From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On >Behalf Of Ellwood Jones >Sent: Saturday, August 19, 2006 12:32 PM >To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com >Subject: [Cal_Boats] Rudder Lubrication > > >What's the best way to grease the rudder? Drop the rudder lube and >reinstall? > >There's a nipple on the aft side of the shaft tube probably about 1/2". >I envision a mess with grease dripping off my elboes trying to squirt it >in there. Anyone rig up something clever to get grease in there? Any >recommendatons on cleaning the rudder shaft of the old sticky buildup? > >Thanks, > >Woody >Cal-34 >

I also take the rudder off the boat for winter storage and put it in the boiler room for a nice warm winters stay. I store it upside down to let any water seep out. To get the water out of the post when in the water you can open the emergency steering port and put a hose down there that is connected to a vacumm. This is what I did on my new boat this spring as I was unable to get the rudder off. Greg 1977 Cal 34 III (for sale) ----- Original Message ----- From: r good To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, August 21, 2006 6:24 PM Subject: RE: [Cal_Boats] Rudder Lubrication did that. it helps. however, I'm told most water goes in around the fiberglass/rudderpost joint at the top of the rudder. hard to seal. I take mine home and let it sleep the winter under the guest bed! I've thought about drilling and taping the bottom of the rudder for a 1/4 pipe plug. open to drain each fall and leave open all winter. I've also thought of installing a similar plug in the top of the rudder and attempting to displace water with antifreeze. inhibits corrosion. prevents freezing ans splitting of rudder Reggie >From: "Husar Charlie" <hu… [at] bah.com> >Reply-To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com >To: <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> >Subject: RE: [Cal_Boats] Rudder Lubrication >Date: Sun, 20 Aug 2006 09:43:19 -0400 > >Hi, Woody. I found that WD-40 is a good grease remover. No nipples in >a CAL 25 rig. We just drop the rudder. Then there is the coke bottle >shimming method if needed. > >As a side note, we also remove rudders if we are doing winter storage (a >lot of 25s stay in the water for Frostbite racing here in Annapolis - >but some get pulled). Don't know how one would get water out of the >rudder tube (flip the boat over?) with rudder installed. We have >rudders freeze and explode, so owners take the rudders home for storage. > >Was thinking that filling the rudder tube with closed cell foam might >work against the water incursion problem? > >Cheers >Charlie >Annapolis, MD > >________________________________ > >From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On >Behalf Of Ellwood Jones >Sent: Saturday, August 19, 2006 12:32 PM >To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com >Subject: [Cal_Boats] Rudder Lubrication > > >What's the best way to grease the rudder? Drop the rudder lube and >reinstall? > >There's a nipple on the aft side of the shaft tube probably about 1/2". >I envision a mess with grease dripping off my elboes trying to squirt it >in there. Anyone rig up something clever to get grease in there? Any >recommendatons on cleaning the rudder shaft of the old sticky buildup? > >Thanks, > >Woody >Cal-34 >