Moody Rudder

Three kings

Three kings

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I'm trying to find out what rudder stock and tang materials were used by Moody in the construction of my 1984 M47. Back then I imagine that aluminium was not in widespread use so I'm hoping it was stainless throughout.

The rudder is wet and the best advice I have is that there should be nothing to worry about if stainless was used. However it may need closer inspection if Aluminium or a combination Alu/Stainless.
 
PhillM said:
I'd give Bob and Dave a call at BDA, Swanwick. I doubt there is much they cannot tell you (or find out for you) about a Moody. They are good guys and are usualy very happy to help.

Numbers on on their website, here:

http://bdamarine.co.uk/contact.php
Click to expand...

Thanks for the contact PhilM.

I just spoke with Dave who tells me that all the 47's rudders used 316 stainless for stock and tangs, and like the rest of the boat, we're built like the proverbial outhouse.

The only Moody's to use galvanised mild steel were some of the 27's.


I love this boat more every day!!
 
Don't want to dampen your joy, but get the wetness issue sorted ASAP. Some years ago now we had my mate's boat in the slings for launching when we realised that the tiller and rudder were not ponting in the same direction. Although stock and tangs were stainless, the rudder had been leaking and the welds affixing the tangs to the stock had rusted through. We opened up the rudder and had the welds redone, filled the case with expanding foam before closing and refinishing the rudder. Inside the rudder we found what appeared to be the contents of the builder's rubbish bin - scrumpled newspaper, lumps of foam and wood, etc. The hull of the boat is built like a brick outhouse, but presumably like many yards, the apprentice is left to knock up the rudder.

Rob.
 
I agree with you re the moisture issue, and it is on the to do list, but I can sort it en route and don't have to put the departure date back.

However having researched the issue in some depth I'm led to believe that a stainless installation is unlikely to suffer to the same degree as Alu/Stainless or mild steel. Nothing is foolproof though.

Where stainless does cause a problem it is most likely due to poor workmanship at build time. I've no proof that Moody's did a proper job but on balance one would expect their QC to be at an acceptable level

Probably the most honest piece of information I got was that designers of boats built back in the day, so to speak, expected their rudders to get wet and so engineered accordingly.

Recently there has been a desire to construct rudders which are designed never to get wet. The experts tell me that this is largely impossible to achieve and so the Alu/mild steel or Alu/stainless combination being used by some manufacturers is likely to be a point of failure within a relatively short period.

You live and learn.
 
I dont know where you are but if you are anywhere near the solent it might be worth arranging to come to Swanwick, get a quick lift and let Dave do the necessary. It might not be a big a job as it sounds and if you line everything up they may even be able to do it over a weekend with you in the slings?

If it does turn out to be big, then better done before a long trip, perhaps?

I am just reading a book by Val Howells and have got to the part where his rudder fell off half way from Tenerriffe to Bahamas. Not read on to how he fixed it (I assume he did because he came back and wrote the book) but makes you think...

Edit - Sorry, I really don't want to sound like a scare monger. I know nothing about Moody's let alone their rudders. Dave does and if he says its fine, its fine. Personally, I would very much trust my life his judgement.
 
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If you are not a member of the MOA then it will be well worth your while joining. There is a wealth of knowledge on Moody's there and there are people who can point you to the best place for your problem
 
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