We dropped the rudder on our E-32 while it was in the water. It was really quite easy with one issue.
First, we removed the emergency tiller attachment in the cockpit. Then, we went below and removed the quadrant. It wasn't hard to do, just awkward to reach all the bolts. Then we tied a line around the rudder and tied the other end around a cleat on the dock. Then, we used the handle end of a deck brush and just pushed the rudder shaft down until it cleared the shaft opening.
Here is the warning: When the shaft came free of the shaft opening, it immediately inverted and the blade of the rudder hit the hull, dinging both. The shaft is stainless and the rudder has a foam core so it floats. Even though the shaft was also filled with foam, its weight flipped the rudder upside down. Although I was in the water to wrap the line, I got out of the water to push the shaft through while my partner was in the lazarette watching to make sure it cleared the quadrant.
If I were to do it over again, I would be in the water when the shaft is pushed through, controlling the rudder to prevent it from hitting the hull.
Reinstalling the rudder was fairly easy but required some creative swimming to submerge the rudder and line up the shaft.
Jim McCone
Voice of Reason E-32 Hull #134
Redondo Beach, CA