Pending purchase and rudder problems

[Panhdjoe]

We have a contract on a 84 27ft aft cabin cruiser. The survey was done last Friday, There are some problems with the steering. The helm works smothley and generally steers well, when its was hauled out we found that the skeg is lose where it attaches to the Keel and on this boat it appears to be made of a 2x4 covered with a layer of fiberglass. Is this the way it is originally made? and the rudder shaft that is supported at the bottom by this skeg is moving around about a 1/2 inch in any direction. Should there be a bushing in there?
The arm that attaches to the top of the rudder shaft (I thing it is called the Quadrant) That the steering cable attaches to is deeply coreded as is the bracket the holds the cable. The boat yard is checking on replacing those.
Any Advice on this rudder issue would be appreciated. It also has a 5" diameter blister on the starboard side aft of the hull the broker says dont worry about this its no big deal others say it should be fixed. Any thoughts on this.
Thanks Joe

[tranmkp]

This is common - Dont know what the original factory installation was, but most were wood - Mine had been replaced with a solid mahogany piece covered in epoxy - other owners had replaced it with a SS box beam of the same dimensions. There should not be that much plat in the rudder where it attaches to the skeg. My quadrant is rusty too. Buck Algonquin makes a bronze replacement for about 80 bucks. Not sure about your blister but you might want to check about 4-5 feet forward of the transom at the turn of the bilge for any cracking - the only way you will see this is if you start to grind down a bit. Mine had long cracks running fore and aft. reglassed thin with epoxy and kynex cloth and plenty strong.

[Veebyes2]

My 86 27AC had a bare wood shoe. Despite the bottom paint on it, the worms took a liking to it especially at the keel mount area. I replaced it & encased it in multi layers of glass.

[Panhdjoe]

Thanks for the help, I will post when and if the deal is done