Cracked Rudder - how difficult to replace?

[Lamest]

We cracked our rudder on our 2008 24 Ve this week on Priest Lake, ID.
It happened over night when a wind storm came through and resulting waves were enough to drop the stern of the boat onto the rocky lake bottom. The dock was too short for the boat.

I didn't notice any steering problems, and the steering wheel feels fine from stop to stop. No other marks/dings on the prop or any other part of the boat.

How difficult is this to replace, and does anyone have a part number for this rudder?

I've changed out the steering cable already, so I'm mildly proficient with bolting parts on.
(Pardon the dirty bottom - the boat normally resides on Hayden Lake, and there's a water quality problem.)

[duffymahoney]

It's actually super simple to replace. The rudder is held on by the arm and the grease zert if memory serves me. You can get just the new blade and just push it up and re-attach. I'm sure any tige dealer should be able to get it for you.

[Moki]

I replaced my whole rudder and rudder box in a couple of hours. As Duffy said, you just need to unhook the rudder arm from the top and it will drop out, push a new up in and reattach the rudder arm.

[kko]

Its a pretty straight forward replacement procedure. The only problem you could face will be dropping the rudder and it hitting the prop gaurd of the trailer. You will need to lift the boat up some to let the rudder drop all the way. Or you could take it to the water and back it off the trailer some. I would only do this if you dont have to trailer it very far and take it easy on the drive home. Do you have a pic of the trailer where you can see the rudder in relation to the prop gaurd? What brand trailer do you have?

[Moki]

I did what KKO said and went to the marina and backed the boat off enough for it to drop and then reattached the new one in the marina parking lot.

[Lamest]

I've got a launch a few miles from my driveway. I'll hang the rear end off a bit to get the rudder out.

We don't have a Tige dealer in the area, so I'm working with someone from Seattle, who has to order from Tige. This makes me scratch my head, every lake we go on out here is filled with Tige's. I bet it has something to do with our six week summers.

I was a little frustrated at first, but it's a boat, and my brother in law has an Axis we can ride behind.

Thank you.

[Moki]

The rudder is not specific to Tige's, you can purchase them from various marine parts online stores. Good luck.

[raythompson]

Take the rudder out and take it to a propeller shop. They fix cracked props and may be able to repair the crack. Such shops are used to working with that type of metal. Don't know about cost. Maybe a new rudder is cheaper than a repair. Just something for consideration.

[Lamest]

Just a follow up for any other schlubs out there scared of taking off their rudders. Pretty easy. Removed the batteries and the fake wall with the door to the batteries. Pulled the bolt completely out of the pinch on the rudder arm. It had room to drop while on my trailer. (Extreme trailer.) A few more pictures of the stainless steel stem, for anyone else that likes to see other people break stuff before they attempt.

And my brother in laws Axis died about 300 feet from the dock this weekend. I'm looking for something to sacrifice to the boating gods to improve our fortune on the water. (We dinged a prop on a pontoon earlier in the week.. geesh.)

Still waiting on the replacement price; I have a prop repair shop in Spokane that I might take the rudder to for an estimate to repair.

Thanks again!

[kko]

IMPO you would be crazy to try and fix that. I woyld never trust it. Just get a new one. they are not that expensive and you can sleep at night knowing its right. Good luck.

[talltigeguy]

IMPO you would be crazy to try and fix that. I woyld never trust it. Just get a new one. they are not that expensive and you can sleep at night knowing its right. Good luck.

X2.

[rushin]

Mine cracked in the same exact spot and it was never hit by anything. Replaced myself also cept I had to remove rudder box because of the prop gaurd.

I had to use a heat gun on the sealant to remove the bottom plate. That stuff was tough.

[kko]

Take the rudder out and take it to a propeller shop. They fix cracked props and may be able to repair the crack. Such shops are used to working with that type of metal. Don't know about cost. Maybe a new rudder is cheaper than a repair. Just something for consideration.

Fixing a cracked prop = No problem
Fxing that crack in the rudder (if you could even find someone that would try)= VERY BAD IDEA!!!!!

[raythompson]

Fixing a cracked prop = No problem
Fxing that crack in the rudder (if you could even find someone that would try)= VERY BAD IDEA!!!!!

Why is it a bad idea? A prop is thinner and subject to considerable centrifugal forces when rotating. The prop also has considerable thrust forces applied the entire time it is operating. I would think a rudder would have less force and more metal to support any force applied.

[duffymahoney]

Looks like an original cast issue. Maybe they would warranty it and replace it.