rudder bearing break

Today we broke  the lower fixation/bearing of the rudder stock on a 470. This bearing looks quite small to me. (s. pic from above) Any experiences on that? We are stuck in a marina and the mecanics will check tomorrow. How long can you go on like that? The shaft moves about 1cm sideways. Steering is ok but what happens to the upper bearing if you have to sail home for another 100sm?
Appendix: I just talked to a 540 Pro-Skipper mooring next to us and he said that the whole bearing must have gone in a long process of splitting and of being tored out. What we can see now is just rest of the seal lip ring of 4-5mm for the outside. Amazing and shocking how this can happen on 2 years old boat which never hit anything nor was aground! Sailing around like this is potentially dangerous as when it tores out the body and producing a hole on the tube it can sink the boat.



Edited by tobo - 28 July 2009 at 16:36

This picture is taken inside the lazarette looking down the rudder stock when you unscrew the cloth cover between stock and body tube. The whole bearing is completely gone (!) which means it must have been a long lasting process. Solution is simple: motor home easily, lift her out of the water and a new bearing will be mounted and paid on warranty without hesitation. Except of course if you haven't run your boat somewhere aground! Because you don't feel it on the wheel wether your lower bearing is still ok or broken (or already gone)  I advise everybody to check: shuddle your rudder blade for unusual play and have a look like on the pic from the inside!

Edited by tobo - 28 July 2009 at 16:16

How old are your boats and how many NM did they cover?

Our boat (H470-#120) is from April 2007 and has sailed 5000nm 

Could you please quote me Jefa's statement und the type of the new bearing. Hanse has sent me a new bearing and I want to know wether it really is the better one and not an "old" one.