Rudder: should I worry?

[Troppo]

Windchaser is up on a slip and I noticed on the rudder that the steel rod is showing. The fibreglass over it is cracked and some has come off.

Is this a structural problem or cosmetic? Should I just paint antifoul over it or pull the rudder off, clean up the broken stuff and coat with epoxy?

[To see full picture, right click on pic and select 'view image'.]

[Phillip]

Afternoon,

I would clean it up and redo the fibreglass over it to ensure that no water is getting into your rudder.

[Troppo]

Thanks Phillip. How do I take the rudder off?

I assume I take the tiller off, then this bottom bracket. Are they bolts?



Then the rudder should slide out at great speed and knock down anybody foolish enough to get in the way.

[Aaron]

G'day,
If that was me I would grind it back with a zec disc on the grinder. until you gotto fluffy glass, and a couple of layers of chop strand mat with peel ply and use vinylester resin, it sicks like crazy dont use epoxy or polyester it doesnt stick a as much as the vinylester, and then give it a wipe with plasty bond.
Cheers,
Dawn Breaker.

[bearmcnally]

Hi Tropo
Phillip is correct !
The "Heel Shoe " has 3 copper rivets in it ,cut them off punch them out .But there's one little problem ? You'll need to have the Top Hat lifted high enough to drop the rudder off,( or take it off in the water that's how I did Egret II's ). Unless you can hang the back of her over a ledge .As the rudder stock is over 1m plus in length and you won't be able to get it off on a standard cradle .It could pay to do it insitu
One more point make sure the rudder is still firmly attached to the rudder stock ? As that crack looks like it runs the whole length ,and it may be caused by rudder movement on the stock .The rudders are made in two halves and then taped together with glass and resin .

Cheers Bear
I noticed your rudder doesn't finish at the underside of the hull ?

[Troppo]

I noticed your rudder doesn't finish at the underside of the hull ?

That's because this is the racing model. That bit got cut off to save weight.

[bearmcnally]

Fair enough ! faster than mine then ?


Bear

[Troppo]

Not with me at the helm she wouldn't be!

[Phillip]

Troppo,

You will need 800mm clear below the keel to remove the rudder.

Remember its slopping forward so you will need no obstructions forward of the shoe to allow you to remove the rudder.

You can replace the bronze rod with threaded SS rod and locking nuts. If you do this, you will have to replace them about every five years as the SS rod will corrode under the nuts are, therefore you must rove [I love using that old word!] over the ends of the SS rod to ensure they do not go walkabout.

[Phillip]

Troppo,

Here's another photo showing the overhang of the stern that is required to remove the rudder.