Steel Boat Refit: DIY Rudder Removal

In this video we’re in Wrangell, Alaska, working on our 80ft steel schooner Alaskan Gypsy. The job: pulling the rudder. It’s the kind of task that can either be a nightmare or, if luck shows up, surprisingly simple. What started out as a rainy, blustery morning with me staring at badly corroded bolts turned into one of those rare wins in the boatyard—bolts coming free without a fight, a rudder that actually lets go, and me learning along the way. This video is less about perfection and more about the real side of boat work: -Rust, electrolysis, and unexpected surprises -The mix of tools, stubborn bolts, and problem-solving -Doing the work yourself because you can’t (or won’t) hire it out -The small victories that keep a big refit moving forward If you like the behind-the-scenes grind of bringing a boat back to life, grab a cup of tea and come into the shipyard with me. Chapters: 00:00 – Windy morning in Wrangell shipyard (steel schooner refit) 00:49 – Why the rudder has to come off (shaft wobble & electrolysis damage) 02:15 – Planning rudder, propeller, and shaft removal on Alaskan Gypsy 03:50 – First look at corroded rudder bolts (rusty hardware problems) 06:00 – Tools out: wire brushing & penetrating oil for stuck bolts 10:30 – First bolt breaks free (DIY rudder removal success) 12:30 – All four bottom bolts loosen easily (unexpected shipyard win) 13:30 – Moving on to the top bolts of the rudder shoe 16:00 – Impact wrench vs. stubborn bolts (boat repair tools) 18:40 – All bolts free after years underwater (electrolysis damage) 20:00 – Preparing for the lift (securing rudder with ropes & hoist) 22:00 – Rigging up for safe rudder removal (DIY boatyard fix) 27:00 – Heavy steel rudder starts to drop (big boat project) 30:00 – Wrestling with weight, leverage, and balance 33:30 – Safer lowering setup (avoiding sketchy rigging mistakes) 37:00 – Adjusting lines and lowering the rudder carefully 41:00 – Rudder finally down! (shipyard milestone reached) 44:00 – Reflections on a smoother-than-expected rudder removal