I am trying to remove my rudders and am not sure how they come
off, I believe the they slide down under the hull. I have just freed them up so they turn. Any suggestions as to proper removal and
install including changing of sleaves or bearrings, Also doing the
prop shafts. Any help would be appreaciated.

mike yokawonis

THEY JUST DROP OUT THE BOTTOM AFTER YOU TAKE OUT THE ARM. THEY ARE IN A PIECE OF PIPE. THE WATER IS KEPT OUT BY GREASE. THERE SHOULD BE A ZERK ON THE SIDE OF THE PIPE.

Thanks for your quick reply. I have removed the steering control bar and it has taken quite an effort just to get the rutters to turn. I have been pounding on the top of the rutter just to force it down with no luck. It's not budging at all! On your posting, you stated there were 2 "zerks". Are these grease fittings? Because there are one grease fitting on the side of each tube. Mind you that this boat has been in brackish water for 7 years. Maybe I will try heating them up with a torch and see if they will come lose. As long as they are sealed with grease, I should not have any problem with breaking anything, like a bearing, etc...
Any other possiblities?

YES A ZERK IS A GREASE FITTING. GREASE THEM UP AND KEEP WORKING THEM. WHY DO YOU WANT TO REMOVE THEM? NORMALLY YOU CAN GET THE PROPS OFF WITHOUT RUDDER REMOVAL AND THE SHAFTS WILL CLEAR THE RUDDERS DUE TO BUILT IN OFFSET.

The reason I wanted to remove them was so I could get them as clean as possible to make them turn easily, I figured there was
a lockup with barnicals etc.
Im hoping I wont have to remove them completely, If so I will have
to have the travelift raise the boat higher.
Oh, a friend of mine laughed when I asked him what a zerk was,
he told me it was the proper name for a grease fitting.
You almost threw me off with "botto" on your post.
Ill let you know how I make out.
Thanks Mike