Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Rudder Carriage Bolt Pre 1972

Here is the carriage bolt for an old style, pre 1972 rudder assembly. The bolt and wing nut are used to secure and tension the rudder pintle into the deck plate and hull plate fittings. There would have been rubber tubing over the bolt to limit play.

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

Here are the rudder fitting parts. The pin in this assembly is an aftermarket locking pin from West Marine.

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

Here is a original rudder pin, pre 1972. The small screw secures the keeper chain to the deck.

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

Rudder assembly on a 1965 Sunfish. There is a small screw hole to the starboard side of the deck plate where the rudder pin chain would be secured. Also the outer nylon washers on the rudder/tiller are not stock, but added to help reduce dissimilar metal corrosion between stainless bolt and bronze straps.

From Sunfish Sailboat Restoration

15 comments:

  1. I can't help thinking that this Sunfish needs a sleeve that tightens the Carriage Bolt into the slot. Otherwise the bolt slops, and wears itself a bigger hole, right?

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    1. The late 60s model Sunfish and Sailfish bolt did have a piece of rubber/nylon tube around the bolt to hold it more secure in the transom slot, kind of like a bumper. I have seen one bolt that had it.

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    2. Great blog - it's really been helpful in restoring my '63 Sailfish. Next up is one of these carriage bolts - is there a DIY or local option (like West Marine), or should I just pony up the $20 for a new, OEM bolt? And do you have a photo of the original rubber tube?

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    3. Great blog - it's really been helpful in restoring my '63 Sailfish. Next up is one of these carriage bolts - is there a DIY or local option (like West Marine), or should I just pony up the $20 for a new, OEM bolt? And do you have a photo of the original rubber tube?

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  2. Hello, Jacob again, from a recent post on another page. It looks like it is a rudder carriage bolt that I'm looking for for my newly inherited sailfish. Do you have any idea where I could find one? Or, if I were to replace it with another screw, would you recommend any particular material, considering that it will be submerged and in contact with the original brass (?) plates? Bronze, maybe?

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    Replies
    1. Sorry, just saw this. We have one if you are still looking.

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    2. Hello, I wanted to know if you sell the Rudder Carriage Bolt or if you know where to find an alternative. Feel free to contact me through my email: jgonz844@fiu.edu

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    3. Try an 1/4 inch diameter x 8 inch long bronze carriage bolt from Jamestown Distributors. You'll nedd to track down a wing nut for it, might have to use stainless or brass.

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  3. Hello,
    I lost a screw to the brass plate that holds the rudder on a 1968 fiberglass Sunfish.
    It is the screw most proximal to the cockpit, in the boat top. Not sure how long it was or what it screws into, but the assembly is now quite loose. Would you know where to get a replacement, or its dimensions so I can find something equivalent? Thank you.

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  4. Hi Fred, That screw is a #8 or #10 one inch wood screw, bronze. Stainless would work. It screws into a 3/4 inch thick wood block underneath the deck. Take a paper clip or awl and poke around inside that hole to see if the wood block is still there, the screw hole might be enlarged, if so, then fill the hole with some toothpicks and waterproof glue (Titebond III or Gorilla) or thickened epoxy. If the block has deteriorated we'll have to go to Plan B. Check your email.

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  5. I’ve lost the screw/bolt that goes on the bottom of the boat, toward the cockpit, the one that keeps the bottom bracket from rotating around the carriage bolt.

    Any help is greatly appreciated, as the boat can’t be sailed without it.

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  6. Realized I didn’t ask my question, which is what screw/bolt goes there? The hole left behind doesn’t make it apparent.

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  7. A #8 or #10 x 1 inch wood screw. Bronze best, stainless works also. There should be a wood block inside the hole that the screw goes into, if it looks reamed out then put some tookthicks and waterproof adhesive in there to make fill the hole. Let that dry then drill a small pilot hole, not to deep, and put the screw in.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks very much, Clark! Is it possible there was a long, hollow bolt in there? Looking at the bracket, the tarnishing suggests the screw/bolt had a head about a half-inch across or slightly more. And looking into the whole, it looks almost like the head of the bolt got sheared off, as the hole seems to be a hollow metal tube.

      This is entirely speculation, though. But wondering if there were different flavors of this mounting. Wish I could post pics.

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    2. No different flavors, but that doesn't stop someone from trying to complicate things. Maybe they thought a rivet would work?

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