Installing missing rudder stabilizing arm

[Riverman]

I'm considering buying an A25 which lost its rudder stabilizing arm. What's involved to install one and where can I find that part?

Robert

[WillieC]

What's a rudder stabilizing arm on an A25? Do you mean the skeg at the bottom of the rudder?

[Riverman]

Yes I mean the skeg.


Tx

[Ed422]

If you look for posts titled “classic Albin keels” (this forum) and “new rudder skeg”(Albin maintenance forum) you’ll see my problem with my Albin 30. My skeg and a chunk of the keel extension was missing. I worked with a local welder who fashioned a new piece for me.

In the “classic Albin keels” post, there are mechanical drawings of the A25 skeg.

Good luck.

Ed

[WillieC]

You need some decent pics of what it is supposed to look like. It is simply a stainless pipe stuck into the keel with a fitting to support the bearing for the bottom of the shaft.

Apparently your boat has "touched bottom". Correct? Follow Ed's advice and maybe you come up with a flat skeg that could be bolted to the bottom of the keel. A decent fab shop could come up with a shaft socket/bearing for the pivot point so you don't need to match the original which uses a pretty custom fitting there. It is designed to remove from the skeg easily so the rudder can be removed by dropping it out the hull. (You will want it removable so you can pull the driveshaft out when that gets bunged up or you want/need to replace or upgrade the shaft seal. You should do all this along with this project. Once and done, including shaft alignment. Replace the rudder shaft seal as well.)

Yes, there is a fair bit of epoxy work involved, but not horrible since it will be mostly unseen...I would try to embed a hunk of stainless with threaded holes to match a flat bolt-on skeg. This job would be much easier if you flip the boat over. (See how helpful we AOGers are?!)

[WillieC]

Here's another thought...Come up with an upper bearing/support well above the one in the aft cabin and eliminate the skeg and the bottom rudder support altogether. With the shaft extending into the aft cabin (tastefully done, of course) you would now have an accessible tiller in case the steering wheel falls off or the cables seize (right, tribologist?) or you are just bored. Maybe not my best thought...

On the Ancient WilllieC, gone to her new home, there is a big ole donut zinc on her skeg. More than once that zinc has saved her bacon by serving as a sort of "curb feeler" when trailering. That skeg protects some vital parts. Scrap this whole idea. However, a bolt-on skeg would provide even more protection to the very bottom of the aft end of the keel, the very point your problem began. Or it would cause more damage when it rips out. Just use your charts and sounder and local knowledge wisely. (More free priceless AOG advice!)

[DesertAlbin736]

Actual A25 stainless steel rudder skeg,

DSCN3631crop.jpg

[tribologist]

The pipehead under the rudder is available at albinmotor.com. The tube is a piece of sch 40 316 pipe. I need to check dim. I have the drawings for those parts to. Pretty easy job to make. Of curiosity, is it the one here in connecticut i posted about in 2019? WN 5087 GC

[WillieC]

There's your classic "bottom kissing",