Bavaria rudder Sharf Seal

[Fairweather sailor]

Could someone suggest where I might get a replacement rudder shaft seal for a Bavaria 30C. The shaft is 58MM, but it steps down to 56MM at the location where the seal is located. The dimensions of the current seal are: 55 x 80 x 10, and looks like the manufacturer is "Stefa"? I've emailed SVB but no response so far, and the seals they have on their website are of different dimensions. We purchased new rudder bearings from Jefa in January, but they say they no longer sell the seals.
Thanks.

[Yngmar]

It's a bog standard lip seal, which are generic items. Stefa is but one manufacturer of them, it doesn't matter who makes it for this use, it's very low use. You should get one with a stainless steel spring or mount it spring-up and keep the spring greased.

https://www.easternseals.co.uk/ got me the right item by swapping a stainless spring onto one of their seals.

[Fairweather sailor]

Thanks Yngmar.
I have ordered the seal and the gaiter from Clipper marine, should be delivered in the next few days.
Any suggestions on how to remove the old gaiter, it appears to be stuck onto the post?
Many thanks.

[Yngmar]

You have to drop the rudder.

[Happysailor]

Perhaps there is a solution where you don’t have to lower the rudder to put the seal on, but this requires specialist equipment. You can also cut the seal and reweld it, this is what also is being done with sterntube seals on merchant vessels. But you will require a specialist who has the equipment…. It will be worth a trade off between putting the boat on the hard and costs for the engineer…

[Yngmar]

If you don't want to drop the rudder, you can use the Jefa gaiter instead: https://jefa.dk/products/sealing-systems/

[Fairweather sailor]

Thanks Yngmar & Happysailor.

We are on a trailer for the winter, and have already dropped the rudder. It was easier than we thought. We’re replacing both top & bottom bearings, and the connecting nut that holds the rudder up. We decided as the rudder was out to replace the simmer seal (definitely needed replacement) and the rubber gaiter. So we nearly are ready to start putting it all back together, but the old gaiter looks to be stuck onto the hollow rudder post, and will have to be cut off. Interesting that when Jefa sent us the replacement bottom bearing, the new one has rollers, but was 12 mm shorter in height, so they also included a 12mm ring to go below the new bearing on the stock!!!!
Thanks again for your input.

[Baddox]

That sounds to be an interesting project.  DO you have any photographs of the parts and progress to share?

[Fairweather sailor]

Hi Baddox, yes I do, give me a day or and I’ll post.

[Fairweather sailor]

Hi Baddox
Can you contact me directly, and I will upload photos, cannot do it on the website, seems the file size are two large, any other info on changing the bearings I'll be happy to share with you.

[sunshine]

It's a bog standard lip seal, which are generic items. Stefa is but one manufacturer of them, it doesn't matter who makes it for this use, it's very low use. You should get one with a stainless steel spring or mount it spring-up and keep the spring greased.

Jefa now recommended a PUR seal, which has a hard plastic component in place of the spring, so no rust possibilities. See towards the bottom of this https://jefa.dk/products/sealing-systems

PUR seals are easily available from the usual online stockists

For identifying other parts and sizes, Jefa have drawings available here.
https://jefa.com/ftp/old_boat_spare_parts/Bavaria/Bavaria30C_G30_2005-2007/
I saved quite a lot by ordering new bearings direct from them, plus they were really helpful.

Drop me a PM if you want more info.