A double walled rudder post is standard and included in the price for this rudder. Compared to the typical early original equipment rudder, it increases the strength by adding a second stainless steel tube inside of the standard tube. The posts are welded together at the top of the two. If trimmed during installation, they will need to be re-welded together.
This rudder ships with a barrier coat primer applied, ready for your bottom paint.
1) This rudder is not the original factory rudder. Don't expect it to look exactly like the original factory rudder.
2) All early Catalina 42's were equipped with the shorter (now wing keel version) of the rudder. If the rudder you are replacing was the shorter version (even though you may have a fin keel boat), the new rudder will be ~ 18" longer than your old rudder. This will provide much better control both at low speeds while maneuvering into your slip and in blustery conditions where the shorter rudder would stall much earlier.
However, if you have a unique mooring situation where the stern of your boat is in shallow water, this might cause an issue for you. Consider carefully before ordering.
3) Catalina 42's built in California after early 1999 used Marlon bearings. All of the Catalina 42s built in Florida included Marlon lower bearings. Some Catalina 42 owners have successfully retrofitted the lower bearing to earlier boats. It is important to note if you have or are installing your new rudder with the Marlon lower bearings as the shape of the top of the rudder must accommodate the Marlon rudder bearings. See "May We Also Suggest" below for more information concerning the Marlon lower bearings (different than the upper bronze bearings with stainless steel rollers).
4) This item does not conform to the shipping table in the Shopping Cart. Additional shipping must be calculated. When you place your order we always call with a shipping quote before billing your card. For a quote in advance, just call 800/959-7245.
5) The boat yard will need to drill for any through bolts including those for the
tiller head and / or the steering quadrant in order to achieve a perfect match with your existing hardware. Water drain channels are pre-drilled.
6) A 50% nonrefundable deposit will be billed when your order for this item is accepted. The balance will be billed when the product ships.
7) This is a custom made part. You provide the information we need to build this product for you. Once you order it we are going to build it just for you, just as you asked. We never want to see it again, and no one else wants it either. So be careful and order it correctly the first time because it can't be canceled, returned, or magically changed into something different!
