AllDodge, sometimes the rudders snap off at the gland from fatique. they are simply a plate welded to a round shaft the 316ss shaft material is actually quite soft. also, if the gland isnt checked often, sometimes things loosten up and people drop a rudder. my boss lost his rudder because the steering arm was loose and so was his packing nut. he was able to stuff rags in the hole to slow the water in, then had the boat pulled and placed on the hard until we could make a set of rudders at work.
