PART FOUR: RUDDERS AND STEERING SYSTEMS
earlier, the shoulder that is formed works
well as an axial-load bearing. A UHMWPE
disk bushing/bearing can be placed under the
main rudder stock here to take the axial load.
A spade rudder can also be struck from
below and so knocked upward, damaging the
steering gear. To prevent this, another shaft
collar below one of the bearings should be
installed.
On performance sailboats, roller-bearing
shaft collars can be built into the upper or
lower rudder bearing. These are sometimes
termed thrust bearings. Such roller-bearing
shaft collars give the smoothest helm feel and
fingertip control.Figure 11-5.
Assorted shaft
collars (Courtesy
Marine Hardware,
Inc.)