Bavaria Rudder Stock Tube Splash Guard

[LinTeal]

Hello,
I have been told that the above on my 2000 Bavaria 34 is starting to degrade and ideally needs to be replaced.
I would appreciate any recommendations  as to someone within striking distance of Portsmouth that would have experience of carrying out this type of work.

[HappyAfloat]

Is it the rubber bearing sealing the tube and the stock, see attached.

If so, replacement would involve dropping the rudder.

We made a version of the jeffa gaiter out of an old wetsuit so we could fix the problem in the water

https://jefa.com/ftp/rudder/install/Gaiter/Gaiter_installation.pdf

[LinTeal]

Yes,same as attached.

[Yngmar]

It's just a large size lip seal. Make sure you get one with a stainless spring or simply install it upside down and grease the spring. Inner diameter you can measure off the rudder post, outer seal diameter off the tube.

As Happy pointed out, the Neoprene gaiter is simpler to install as it doesn't require hauling out or dropping the rudder. If you're hauled out anyways, it's no big deal - you don't have to get it all the way out of the hull, just lower it enough to get the new seal over the top. Requires taking the quadrant and everything else off though.

[LinTeal]

Many thanks HappyAfloat and Yngmar.If I go down the gaiter route is the old seal easy to remove without lowering the rudder ?

[Yngmar]

Yes, you can undo the hose clamps, slide the rubber hose up and cut it away. The seal has a steel frame and will be tougher to cut, a sawblade or large wire cutter might do the job. Don't remove the rigid (aluminium) part of the tube!

[LinTeal]

Many thanks,really helpful.