26X Rudder Aluminum Bracket

March · Post by **March** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:27 am

Hello!
My 26X has the old aluminum rudder brackets. Has anyone changed theirs to the newer model steel ones, and can spare an old aluminum spare? BWY sells a new one for over $200 (ouch!) I am thinking about converting to IDA rudders in the future, and then I will have to change the whole system. For the time being an aluminum rudder bracket will do.
Thank you in advance

J.Teixeira · Post by **J.Teixeira** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 8:44 am

Hi

I did, and I have 2 new ones and 2 use,d but I am in Europe

IDA rudders don't fit on the aluminum brackets.

If you change to SST you must change everything...

It is expensive...

If you can't find in the US I can send you one, but I need to check shipping cost and a fair price.

Jose

March · Post by **March** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 7:52 pm

Thank you, Jose. I appreciate that.

Newell · Post by **Newell** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 8:27 am

Sounds like yours are bent? I have 2 bent ones in stock already.

If yours aren't bent badly, try putting them in a big vise and twisting them towards straight with a long 2" pipe. Then take them to a welder and have thick plates added to beef them up. The older type X rudder system is just as good and may even be better for pointing than the later system IMHO. I race my X against other Xs with the new system all the time, do well.

March · Post by **March** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 6:35 am

I'd like to do that. Could you spare the two bad ones? I'd hate to dismantle the ones that still work, and find out that the welder couldn't weld them right cuz they were aluminum or something.
Thank you in advance.

DaveB · Post by **DaveB** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 7:01 pm

March,
I have the original 1997 Mac.X aluminum Brackets and cruised all over Florida past 3 years and only problem I saw was the forward bracket nut scrapping on the aft deck that I corrected.
How did yours get bent out of shape?
Dave

March wrote:I'd like to do that. Could you spare the two bad ones? I'd hate to dismantle the ones that still work, and find out that the welder couldn't weld them right cuz they were aluminum or something.
Thank you in advance.

March · Post by **March** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 8:06 am

Well, some rough weather on the Apostle Islands last summer. It's not cracked or anything, but I wouldn't trust crossing the GulfStream (as we are planning to do in May) without a spare.

restless · Post by **restless** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 9:21 am

You really need to get them welded up. Prperly. I straightened and added a bit of welding and it just broke the next day. Our first trips out were plagued by steering failures. Not any more!

read the details:http://www.ironengineer.com/mac/steering/steering.html

Don T · Post by **Don T** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 2:04 pm

Those are the early brackets 95/96. The factory sent us the new ones as a warranty replacement. The later aluminum brackets have longer arms changing the steering ratio. They are made from thicker material with longer bracing and they are wider overall so the area that broke on your' is thicker in both dimensions.
Nice welding on those older brackets they should hold up pretty well. Someday I'll have to do mine.

MacGregorSailors.com

26X Rudder Aluminum Bracket

26X Rudder Aluminum Bracket

Re: 26X Rudder Aluminum Bracket

Re: 26X Rudder Aluminum Bracket

Re: 26X Rudder Aluminum Bracket

Re: 26X Rudder Aluminum Bracket

Re: 26X Rudder Aluminum Bracket

Re: 26X Rudder Aluminum Bracket

Re: 26X Rudder Aluminum Bracket

Re: 26X Rudder Aluminum Bracket