[rgano]

Hi, Jai. I once found one on my twin rudders to be extremely stiff. I first noted the issue when I heard a groaning noise coming out of the open lazarette hatch while turning the helm in the slip with engines off. The cable steering system I had in that 1972 GB 42 had so much mechanical advantage that I never noticed it before. I had to replace a thoroughly corroded rudder table (where the top bearing is located).

I would recommend that you first disconnect the tiller arm on the rudder post from the steering system and see if the rudder will move relatively freely. That will tell you whether the problem is the rudder or the steering system. This will be a good thing to diagnose now before you haul out for bottom paint in case the rudder needs to be pulled for a galled shaft tube.

Oh, and well aboard, glad to have you. Let us know how it goes....