Thanks for the replies. I put a seal, or gasket, under and around the rudder compartment plate, totally keeping water out of the compartment (where the tube is loose). The front part of the tube is intact, so no water in hull from there. So, I am water-tight. My cables are also attached, so the ski is currently operable. I am just concerned about when a cable breaks--I will not be able to run another cable through the boat without breaking her open. I am not at the point where I have to cut into the boat yet.
I am going to try to pull the tube out of the boat without major surgery. I will have to do this from the front since that is where I can actually see the end of the tube.
My question: How are these tubes attached to the boat? Are they glued or clamped all the way from front to back? Or are they just glued near the front and back entry/exit holes?
This is important because if the tubing is just attached at the ends, I can cut a little bit around the tubing hole to get rid of the glue attachment, then simply pull the tube out around the cable. With the cables still running through both holes, I can then push a longer 3/16" O.D. polyethelene tube around the existing cable through the exit hole. I can then secure both ends of the tube to ensure they do not go back inside the hull. I can only pull the factory installed tube out if it is only attached to the boat at the ends? Hopefully it is not attached throughout the hull. Thanks.
KR McGregor Rhythm, V10Sport, Swordfish S, Fenn Tarpon S, Fenn XT, Twogood Chalupski, Findeisen Stinger spec. Had: V12, Stellar SE, Huki S1-X, Burton wedge2, Fenn Tarpon