Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 03-04-2015, 08:42 AM   #1
Member
 
City: Malta
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 15
Rudder Box Help

Whilst the boat is on the hard, we decided to look into the leaking rudders and removed all rudder hardware.

It appears that the hole in the wooden box is larger than the hole in the hull and it seems that it was not cut with a hole saw but small holes were drilled next to each other to make the big hole.

Overall, the wood seems to be solid, however, the oversize hole needs to be addressed. My mechanic is suggesting waxing the packing tube, fitting it temporarily in place and filling the void with west systems epoxy in order to create an even hole which will require less Sika to bed.

The packing tube will then be removed and re-installed with the adequate sealer.

Any idea whether this will work or any suggestions for an alternative fix?

Photos look worse than in person and all the rust is due to the yard using steel bolts instead of SS bolts.





austingm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2015, 10:31 AM   #2
Guru
 
City: gulf coast
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,440
Is this a wood boat?

Do the bolts go through the bottom?
bayview is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2015, 11:23 AM   #3
Guru
 
Sailor of Fortune's Avatar
 
City: St Augustine,Fl
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,798
Gougeon Brothers (West System Book) has a rudder port repair that they wax the rudder stock itself and inject thickened epoxy in to the area around it, effectively using the rudder post as the mold.
You would have to see if this a trick that would work in your particular situation.
The Gougeon book is a very good guide for all kinds of boat related projects.
Sailor of Fortune is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2015, 12:56 AM   #4
Member
 
City: Malta
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by bayview View Post
Is this a wood boat?

Do the bolts go through the bottom?


Boat is a fibreglass 14.7m 1980 C-kip built by C&L

The rudder ports are wooden blocks set on top of the fibreglass hull and encased in fibreglass.
austingm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2015, 06:06 AM   #5
Guru
 
Capt.Bill11's Avatar
 
City: Sarasota/Ft. Lauderdale
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,438
What you mechanic has suggested should work.
Capt.Bill11 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2015, 06:43 AM   #6
FF
Guru
 
FF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
There can be a reasonable load on the rudder hole , it just doesn't keep water out.

I would tap a piece of scrap wood in the hole , and use a real hole saw on center to create a larger round hole.

A bronze bushing or a teak wood bushing would be create to fix the size difference , and epoxied in place.

No question cleaning the wood area and covering the unit with aluminum foil (as parting agent) and using dense heavy filled epoxy should also work.

The question would be which will be easier to repair / replace after a log or the bottom loads everything high enough to bend.

Everything needs rebedding ...eventually
FF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2015, 12:56 PM   #7
Guru
 
City: gulf coast
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,440
What your mechanic suggests would work but I would add only after cutting everything back to good wood.
bayview is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2015, 08:11 PM   #8
chc
Senior Member
 
chc's Avatar
 
City: PA
Vessel Name: Scooter
Vessel Model: 1984 Californian 34 LRC
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 358
I used the rudder port repair Sailor refers to on our Californian 34. Calls for drilling holes in the port; thoroughly waxing the shaft (that would be really, really, thoroughly); then injecting a West system mix, of silica & graphite. Let cure, pull the shaft, grease & reinsert. Worked well for me; especially after we got the shaft unstuck & turning again.
__________________
Scooter
1984 Californian 34 LRC
www.scootersvoyage.blogspot.com
chc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2015, 08:25 PM   #9
Guru
 
Xsbank's Avatar
 
City: Pender Harbour, BC
Vessel Name: Gwaii Haanas
Vessel Model: Custom Aluminum 52
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,791
I would cut it back to good wood like Bayview suggests and add another block above the existing and glass that in place. There is a lot of torque on a rudder and what I can see from the photos that area is suspect.
__________________
Don't believe everything that you think.
Xsbank is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2015, 09:14 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Lutarious's Avatar
 
City: Oakland,Ca
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 108
I would grind the whole block off, replace it and glass in the new block as well as the hole in the hull below. Now you have a fresh start. Drill it with the correct hole saw and install the way it was meant to be installed.
Lutarious is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2015, 10:25 PM   #11
Guru
 
Capt.Bill11's Avatar
 
City: Sarasota/Ft. Lauderdale
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,438
If the wood really is in good shape all around the holes I would do what your mechanic suggested and go boating. I mean you'll be in better shape than the original manufacturers work and look how long that lasted.
Capt.Bill11 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-07-2015, 07:31 AM   #12
FF
Guru
 
FF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
IF the wood is water soaked , and will be wet all the time , replacement of the wood is a better choice.

The wood bushing with resorcinol glue would be fine , but epoxy with always wet epoxy is less than good.

Read this months Wooden Boat article on glues for conformation..
FF is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:19 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012