On a 1986 Tartan 40, spade rudder. I've not ever had the thing apart. Am noticing water weeping in at the Bearing to hull cone/mold/rudder port, underneath the flange of the (brass or bronze bearing), where the first area of splooge is coming up from the bottom. Only notice the water dripping when under way ... if the boat is still, no drip.

I guess I have to haul, get in there and take the whole thing apart, remove the quadrant, autopilot, lock collar and so on, drop the rudder, and have a look. At least rebed the Bearing ... possibly replace the Bearing, and the attachments.

I would think the rudder bearing beds into the fiberglass stem/port, this is where the leak is. Then there's some kind of collar, powder coated cast or metal, that has a flange on it that is tapped to the top of the bearing, then what looks like maybe a Delrin collar, then another sleeve with the through bolt that I suspect helps hold the rudder in place, all this around the rudder stock, which the Quadrant is bolted to. Somewhere in there I believe is about 2.5 feet of 5/16 packing, but I'm not sure about that.

If anyone has a bearing set up like this, and you've taken it apart, I'd love to hear how you think mine is assembled. And if I replace the Rudder Bearing, who / what are my options ?

thanks, cheers, John