Need to find a rudder tie bar

[JustPhish]

At the end of last season in rough water the tie bar for my port rudder snapped right where it enters the socket at the tiller arm. I still had rudder control in the starboard because the wheel connects to that one first. Now it's time to start looking at fixing the problem. I can't fit into the space to measure diameter and length of the bar. Is there somewhere I can look up what the specs might be for my boat. I have tried every way I can think of an come up empty. It's an 82 Chris craft Catalina 281 express. 29'. Stretching into the space the best measurement I can get is around 36" in length and 3/4" diameter.

Are these things fairly universal that once I find a place selling one the right length I can just buy it and have someone install it?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Need to find a rudder tie bar

At the end of last season in rough water the tie bar for my port rudder snapped right where it enters the socket at the tiller arm. I still had rudder control in the starboard because the wheel connects to that one first. Now it's time to start looking at fixing the problem. I can't fit into the space to measure diameter and length of the bar. Is there somewhere I can look up what the specs might be for my boat. I have tried every way I can think of an come up empty. It's an 82 Chris craft Catalina 281 express. 29'. Stretching into the space the best measurement I can get is around 36" in length and 3/4" diameter.

Are these things fairly universal that once I find a place selling one the right length I can just buy it and have someone install it?

Nope,.... Nothin' universal 'bout 'em,...

I'm guessin' ya need to pull what's there, 'n then try to match it, or build a new 1.....

 

[JustPhish]

Re: Need to find a rudder tie bar

Nope,.... Nothin' universal 'bout 'em,...

I'm guessin' ya need to pull what's there, 'n then try to match it, or build a new 1.....

Yuck. Although I suppose getting a length of bar and then just drilling it to take a bolt through either side to hold it into the tiller arms wouldn't be the hardest thing to do. Just a matter of making sure I get the right length.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Need to find a rudder tie bar

Yuck. Although I suppose getting a length of bar and then just drilling it to take a bolt through either side to hold it into the tiller arms wouldn't be the hardest thing to do. Just a matter of making sure I get the right length.

Ayuh,.... Generally speakin',...
They have to have Adjustability built into 'em, so's ya can adjust the toe-in/ toe-out of the rudders/ drives....

 

[JustPhish]

Re: Need to find a rudder tie bar

Ayuh,.... Generally speakin',...
They have to have Adjustability built into 'em, so's ya can adjust the toe-in/ toe-out of the rudders/ drives....

The one there now has nothing there for adjusting. I'm figuring as long as I make it the exact size of what it was that I should be pretty good with the rudder alignment. Gonna be a huge pita to get that rusted out piece from inside the tiller arm. I should probably just buy a new tiller arm too.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Need to find a rudder tie bar

Ayuh,.... Got any pictures,..?? Yer probably gotta figure out what's too rusted, 'n where to try to take it apart...

If ya gotta build a new 1, why not do it right, 'n adjustable,..??