Lost Rudder in Stockholm

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MattK1969

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Hi All
Having a bad day on a 1990 Malo 116. Motor sailing down a narrow channel out of Stockholm and we hit the underwater chain of a chain ferry. The rudder has come off. Managed to get back in with the bow thruster.

The steel post is visible when inspected with two spades that I guess were buried within the rudder before it came off.

I am currently moored up.

Does anyone have any experience of how to get this fixed? The shaft seems to be steering reasonably ok, but may be bent by a 1mm or so. There are no leaks.

Matt
 
As Angus says, easiest is to just hand the job to your insurer. Malo still exist although the chances of rudder moulds last used to build boats 33 years ago sitting in a warehouse aren't high, producing the right shape from drawings isn't particularly difficult and is well within the capability of the average laminator.
 
I would expect it to be mangled beyond economic repair even if it did float and you could find it or retrieve it from the bottom. If you make an insurance claim let the insurance company decide on the way forward. They deal with this kind of thing every day so are pretty clued up on how to get a fix done. It's not an unusual boat or made from exotic materials so they will know straightaway what needs doing and who can do it. Insurance companies prefer known costs done by known companies rather than possible cheaper solutions that may not bear fruit, like sending out a diver to retrieve the remnants which may not be found and may not be usable even if found.

Does the location where you've reached have a boat hoist and boatyard that can do repairs?
 
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Rudder reconstruction if you need DIY would start with removing shaft and determinuing the shape and size of the finished rudder. Consider you amy want a different shape or size to original. It is all a compromise anyway. ie depth of rudder extending lower than keel or skeg and degree of balance and what you can fit in the aperture.
The rudder is made essentially by fitting polyurethane foam in between the spades and above and below spades to a size and shape similar to what you want but by about 6mm smaller. Lay up grp on one side with emphasis on extra attachment to spades. Then roll over and lay up the remaining side with if possible extra attachment to spades. Once you have a genetal shape and size attached to shaft you can add more GRP and filler to get final rudder. I would use carbon fibre clotgh with kevlar outer layer for toughness. But glass would be fine. Just make it very thick.
Doable but difficult and proffessionals would be far better if you can get them to do it at a reasonable price. ol'will
 
MattK1969 said:
That Jefa site looks awesome. There is a boat yard opposite. Might see if we can bolt a temporary steel one on.
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Don't mess. Get it fixed properly. Don't think Jefa will be any help as almost certainly Malo would have built the rudder in house. As suggested, notify your insurer - you have a valid claim if you have all risks insurance. They will pay for it to be lifted and inspected by a surveyor to determine the extent of the damage and propose a schedule of work to repair it. Not a difficult job for a good repair yard, although you may have to do some research to find the detail dimensions of the rudder blade. Sounds like you have the stock and tangs to provide the dimensions of the structural framework.
sailboatdata.com/sailboat/malo-116/

This gives an idea of the general shape of the rudder blade but suggest your first contact is with Malo who may still have the original drawings.
 
Having has a ferro boat with a GRP rudder with S/S shaft and having to rebuild it due to water intrusion into the core.

I now have a steel boat with a steel rudder filled with oil to prevent any internal rust. The join to the shaft which is also stainless steel is welded so less likely to allow water inside the rudder.

I would be interested in comments on this observation
 
MattK1969 said:
The shaft seems to be steering reasonably ok, but may be bent by a 1mm or so.
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And another could reason for putting in the hands of your insurers. In my experience, they will appoint a surveyor to check the shaft and steering is undamaged and for any damage you haven't seen. If something crops up later, it will be their bag, not yours.
 
SimonD said:
And another could reason for putting in the hands of your insurers. In my experience, they will appoint a surveyor to check the shaft and steering is undamaged and for any damage you haven't seen. If something crops up later, it will be their bag, not yours.
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One thing to bear in mind is that the Swedish boatyards, like most businesses, will be closed for their annual holidays from their big bank holiday at the end of June until some time in August. So it will be hard to get anyone to give you a repair estimate for the next few weeks, particularly as you may well need a tow in and a haul out.

Maybe another reason to enlist the help of your insurers.
 
Ok, pleased to report that a bottle of whiskey or too in the right hands and we got the retired owner of the fibreglass repair yard to come in over the holidays and make us a new rudder (known locally as Plastic Jesus!). What a job! But it looks fantastic now and we are about ready to launch again. Insurance all approved. Next job is to claim the money back off the ferry company for not informing the chart makers of the aforementioned cable. Locals say loads of people have hit it. Why no one has complained about the lack of charted info I really don't know.
 

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Leave your insurers to fight with the ferry company. That is what you pay them to do - pay your repairs and recover their cost from the third party if they can.

Looks a good job with the new rudder,
 
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