Do I have to worry about my rudder?

[kingsebi]

I attach two pictures. The boat is a Trident Voyager 35. The rudder foot (do you call it like that?) is bolted through the keel two times. I suppose the keel at this part is solid fiberglass. I had to drill holes in the front of the keel to let water out and there were 2cm of fiberglass. Due to a faulty rudder shaft seal I had 50-100 liters of water coming in per day depending on sea state and rudder action for the last two years. The bilge is more or less dry now after four weeks on the hard with 40 degrees Celsius. Unfortunately on the inside the bilge is not accessible. On one side of the rudder foot one of the bolts is leaking water. A drop every couple of hours our so. I had many other things to do and only realized it when I put on the first epoxy barrier coat. The boat goes back in the water on Monday and I postponed the repair for the next drydock. What do you think? Is there reason for worry?

 

[MattK1969]

Surely if you managed to live with the leaky seal, which is now repaired, any further leaks will be negligible? Maybe the new paint/epoxy will improve things at the bolting point on the skeg(?).

 

[kingsebi]

That’s what I hope. The rudder shaft seal is replaced of course. I don’t think this minor leak will compromise the integrity of my rudder foot, but I’m not a boatbuilder and that’s why I’m looking for more learned opinions.

 

[Tranona]

There does not seem to be any movement of the bolted on shoe so probably no danger of it falling off. However it would be sensible at some point to remove it and dry out the bottom of the hollow hull are, fill the bolt holes with epoxy and redrill.

 

[kingsebi]

Thank you Tranona, that is comforting. The bolted on shoe does not move. Dry out and epoxy is what I plan to do next time the boat is out.

 

[MattK1969]

That’s what I hope. The rudder shaft seal is replaced of course. I don’t think this minor leak will compromise the integrity of my rudder foot, but I’m not a boatbuilder and that’s why I’m looking for more learned opinions.

You may not need to replace the shaft seal.

 

[kingsebi]

I had to because the spring in the old lip seal was not inox. I also had to improve the whole arrangement, because whoever had the boat before did some unbelievably stupid things. Now it should be ok though. Tomorrow she goes back in the water. A little nervous as usual before craning…

 

[srm]

My Voyager 35 had a bronze rudder heel fitting, bolted through the keel. The last couple of time I had her lifted out there was a slight rust stain near the forward bolt. I never investigated further. The boat had an (unused) holding tank built into the aft end of the keel put in as a "tick box" feature.

 

[kingsebi]

Thank you. That is interesting. I don’t like that there is no access to the deep bilge on the Voyager. I think it is one of the few disadvantages of this great boat.