Rudder stuffing bolt mess

[KnotYet]

Hi everyone, thank you so much for all of your support and suggestions. I tried coaxing with tapping and PB blaster. I was unable to get heat on it. The top of the threaded rod is too close to the screw that holds the top of the assembly down so they’re opposing and there’s not space to get anything in between and slide down over, like the nut heater.. I cut this access because I was completely at a loss as how to make any progress. The boats coming out of the water and I’m going to drop the rudder to get access. My concern is, have I made a structural weakness that needs to be remedied with my cut?

Oh, how hard is it to drop the rudder?

Based on what is visible, little or no change to anything structural, IMO.

 

[DDW]

When you pull the rudder, you are going to want to change things to allow access. A rudder post and packing gland aren't something to be hidden away out of sight. You need to maintain them periodically, and that requires access. Hard to suggest without seeing all of it, but I'd cut and install whatever was necessary to make access easy, otherwise you will be doing this again. Two rudders? then do the other side while you have the tools warmed up.

It looks like "they" but a SS nylock on the bronze all-thread. And it looks like, one of those was put on upside down. They are very likely to be 304SS rather than 316, as the latter are rare locally. While you are in there, I'd replace the nuts with bronze nuts, two of them if you need it to lock. Bronze nuts are available from McMaster.

 

[Rays53hatt]

When you pull the rudder, you are going to want to change things to allow access. A rudder post and packing gland aren't something to be hidden away out of sight. You need to maintain them periodically, and that requires access. Hard to suggest without seeing all of it, but I'd cut and install whatever was necessary to make access easy, otherwise you will be doing this again. Two rudders? then do the other side while you have the tools warmed up.

It looks like "they" but a SS nylock on the bronze all-thread. And it looks like, one of those was put on upside down. They are very likely to be 304SS rather than 316, as the latter are rare locally. While you are in there, I'd replace the nuts with bronze nuts, two of them if you need it to lock. Bronze nuts are available from McMaster.

Thank you so much. I really appreciate the feedback and direction. I will do exactly that.