2001 Air Nautique Rudder Repair

[SixKids]

I have a 2001 Air Nautique direct drive. Steering was very stiff when under load (last season) so with some effort I was able to disconnect the steering cable from the rudder, and found that the rudder itself was the problem. Long story short I need to get in there and do some repairs, but I can't get the hard ballast tanks out. The back end is mostly dissassembled (back seat and floor section removed). I'm looking at the gas tank, and I think I need to slide it out of the way to get the ballast tanks out but to do that (I think) I need to get the backrest of the back seat out and I can't figure out how to do that. Or, is there an easier way to access the rudder? Can I work on it without removing the tanks?

[charlesml3]

You can access the rudder without pulling the tanks out. It isn't easy, but it is doable. There will be safety wire on the bolts. You'll have to cut that out. Then there will be two bolts. One holds the tiller arm onto the rudder. Loosen that one and the tiller arm will slide up and off. The other bolt is on top of the rudder shaft. Take that one out and there will be a couple of washers under it. Take those off. The rudder will slide out then.

-Charles

[SixKids]

Thanks Charles! I think I can do that - would you recommend the flax packing, or the goretex?

[charlesml3]

Thanks Charles! I think I can do that - would you recommend the flax packing, or the goretex?

So before we start talking about the repair, let's first determine what the problem is. Pull the rudder out and clean the grease off the shaft. Clean the grease out of the stuffing box as well. I usually just shove paper towels down from the top and push them through with something.

Regrease all of it. Be generous with the grease. Slide the rudder back in and see if it's nice and smooth. If it is, you're good to go. Most likely the packing is just fine. In 17 years with my old 99 Air, I never had to replace it.

-Charles

[SixKids]

Charles Thanks, got the rudder greased up, re-assembled, and water tested this weekend. The steering is fantastic, and I saved a lot of time taking your advice and just working around the ballast tanks. Not easy, but doable - exactly as stated. Thanks again, six kids and a happy wife are ready to kick off the season!

-Josh

[charlesml3]

Charles Thanks, got the rudder greased up, re-assembled, and water tested this weekend. The steering is fantastic, and I saved a lot of time taking your advice and just working around the ballast tanks. Not easy, but doable - exactly as stated. Thanks again, six kids and a happy wife are ready to kick off the season!

-Josh

Awesome! Great to hear, Josh. I had a 1999 Air Nautique for 17 years. I know those boats inside and out. I eventually did have to replace the steering cable in my boat when greasing the rudder shaft just didn't help anymore. It isn't the worst DIY I've ever done but it does take some time. I did it by myself in about 5 hours.

-Charles