I've been absorbing water in my rudder for several years. Each fall I drill holes at the bottom to drain the water, then in the spring repair the fiberglass. So this year I removed the rudder for repair. The entire rudder and plastic tube were always moving together. It looks like a brass bearing is imbedded in the lower 3 inches of the tube. The shaft was apparently frozen on the bearing. I knocked the tube down in an attempt to remove it before it met resistance, Just stopped there.
Does the bearing need to be replaced? How best to bed the tube so it does not leak or move with the shaft? Any repair suggestions What to use for the spacer ring?
Used Great stuff Foam. It may be too porous .
