Holes in my rudder!

Greenheart

Greenheart

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There are several slightly soft bubbles in the finish on the sides of my GRP rudder, up to about 15mm across. Some have 'popped', leaving dry recesses that reveal the glass strands, perhaps 4mm below. The lousy out-of-focus photo doesn't help much, but...

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There are also narrow gaps between the two halves which form the rudder blade, and patches of the leading edge which I'd like to improve...

...what sort of filler/finish should I use to fill these various voids with?

Thanks in advance,

D
 
Drill a few holes near the bottom of the rudder to let the water out. Stuff cloth strips into the holes to act as wicks, wait patiently as the rudder dries out.

Inject epoxy/colloidal sillica mixture into the voids. Fill and fair the holes. Fill the osmotic blisters at the same time. Antifoul as per normal.

Repeat next season, it takes a while to get the rudder completely dry this way. The alternative is to drop the rudder out, cut away one side and fill and repair on a bench.
 
Iain C said:
...Dan's bought a boat?
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Yep!

Very sneaky about it, no big congratulatory thread with fireworks and champagne, he just suddenly started asking practical questions about an actual boat :)

It's a lime green (until he puts teak decks on it!) Osprey dinghy, I think will be sailing at Chichester.

Pete
 
prv said:
Yep!

Very sneaky about it, no big congratulatory thread with fireworks and champagne, he just suddenly started asking practical questions about an actual boat :)

It's a lime green (until he puts teak decks on it!) Osprey dinghy, I think will be sailing at Chichester.

Pete
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Well, REALLY! There was I, modestly trying so hard to contain my explosive excitement...;)

Yes, Iain, I finally took the plunge. And entered a very alien world of actual relevant issues...but I decided not to arrange fireworks and fountains of champagne until I've made sure she floats and functions as I hope. Has anyone heard from Seajet lately? He'll flip with excitement when he realises his continued praise of the Osprey's design has finally won me over...but I haven't read a word by him lately.

Regarding the rudder, I'm grateful for the advice: I guessed it might be a matter of injecting it with epoxy. The rudder blade is on my sofa as I type, so I'm hoping there's not much (if any) moisture inside; when the 'bubbles' are burst, the interior is dusty-dry.

I suspect this boat might require quite a lot of epoxying...I'm almost glad it's too damned cold to go sailing, yet... :rolleyes:
 
Not sure I would bother until I could get the rudder off and seal the shaft / blade join where water will have got in. I have only ever had one boat that didnt have a wet rudder
 
I think you should make the launch a Scuttlebutt event. We could all help trundle your boat down the slipway and cheer as you sail off.
 
Bosun Higgs said:
Not sure I would bother until I could get the rudder off and seal the shaft / blade join where water will have got in. I have only ever had one boat that didnt have a wet rudder
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It's only a dinghy, Bosun...the rudder's on my sofa right now, dusty dry. I don't suppose it's ever been submerged for more than a few hours in a week. Or...(dear God, I'm slow on the uptake)...do the bubbles necessarily indicate that water has saturated the rudder at some point? Would I be wise to crack all the bubbles to aerate the 'core'? I had supposed that the gap in the seam between the two symmetrical halves, will have prevented any moisture lingering in there.

Merry Girl said:
I think you should make the launch a Scuttlebutt event. We could all help trundle your boat down the slipway and cheer as you sail off.
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I'd like to have a rehearsal the night before, otherwise the assembled forumites might watch in dismay (or hysterics) as I sink quietly out of sight...

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...but it's a very kind thought, thank you. I'll take plenty of photos and video when the day comes.
 
dancrane said:
It's only a dinghy, Bosun...the rudder's on my sofa right now, dusty dry. I don't suppose it's ever been submerged for more than a few hours in a week. Or...(dear God, I'm slow on the uptake)...do the bubbles necessarily indicate that water has saturated the rudder at some point? Would I be wise to crack all the bubbles to aerate the 'core'? I had supposed that the gap in the seam between the two symmetrical halves, will have prevented any moisture lingering in there.
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I jumped to conclusions having been there with a cruiser. If its a dinghy and rarely in the water then its unlikely to be osmosis. There are lots of other things that can cause bubbling. Check if it is wet inside by drilling holes in it - you can easily fill them with epoxy afterwards. Put the rudder itself in the airing cupboard and ignore SWMBO protests. If its already dry then maybe sand off the surface and coat with epoxy. If its wet, then dry out, sand the surface and coat with epoxy.
 
Bosun Higgs said:
If its already dry then maybe sand off the surface and coat with epoxy. If its wet, then dry out, sand the surface and coat with epoxy.
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Thanks for that. SWMBO won't even notice...the indescribable clutter in our airing cupboard precludes the presence of towels, etc.

Will this stuff do, to fill the holes? It looks easier to use than pricey epoxy.

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