Loose Rudder 01' Air Nautique

[pdxCC]

Interesting one today. The rudder came loose and is rattling in the port. No issue with the steering cable so most of the posts here didn't help.

The boat is in the water 100% of the time these days at the dock. Use it 2-3x days a week in the mornings.

The rudder moves laterally but I didn't notice any vertical play.

Suggestions?

Would it help to tighten the packing nut?
Maybe the rudder tiller arm is loosening?

I am 90%+ certain we didn't hit anything. The crappy part is that to get at the rudder I have to remove my hard ballast tanks...


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[Skidave]

I was just in the back of my 03 Air and there was access between tanks to get to the rudder and steering cable. I'm not sure how much difference there is between your 01 and my 03 and their tanks. Maybe your packing tore or fell out causing the lateral play. I would think it would not move vertically because of design of the interior arm that connects to your steering cable.

[pdxCC]

Update here. The service shop noted after a water test that they didn't have any concerns about the lateral play. If there was vertical play they woudl be concerned.

Taking their advice I am planning to not have the rudder/port replaced or the packing serviced as it is not leaking. I'd prefer to just replace the port this winter but my concern is that if I leave it alone that I will be damaging the rudder shaft and end up buying both for ~$900 instead of the port for $250.

Please weigh in on this one if you have any experience!!??!!

Again, only lateral play, no vertical movement and the steering is smooth as butter.

[pdxCC]

Bumping this one up after tearing into the interior last night. I cannot find a reasonable way to get at the rudder in my 01' Air. The hard ballast tanks block access from above and the fuel tank/muffler block access from the interior of the boat.

If anyone has experience with how to get at the rudder I would appreciate your input.

Cheers!
Brett

[Skidave]

Photos? We must have different tanks. On my 03, there is a carpet panel between the seat back / tank area and fuel tank. On mine, the fuel tank would come out on the engine side; not the tank / transom side. I have dual fuel fills on port and starboard sides and a vent on the port side. Removing the fuel hoses and vent hose would allow the tank to start to move. I would have to look at the fuel line and see if that needs to be removed.

Attach a photo of your ballast tanks. One or both may have to come out. Like I said above, my tanks do not come together and there is a gap that allows me to access the rudder hardware, steering cable and rear bilge pump.

Dave

[pdxCC]

Thanks Dave. I think there was an update between our years with the TSC2/3 hulls. I have to unbolt a few brackets to allow me to slide the tank forward. There is only about a 2" gap between the ballast tanks so I am leaning towers cutting the tanks out and replacing with sacs. Cheaper than the labor to remove/reinstall the hard tanks.


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