Rudder damage advise please

[sailaboutvic]

I happen to catch a small part of my rudder , it only about 10mm x 4 mm on the bottom back corner but it take off the gel and there a small part what looks like mat showing , do any one know how much resin that normally packed on the bottom end of a rudders ? How much damage would happen if it not looked at till another year ,
would it be worth putting underwater resin putty has a temp fix ?
I don't really want to have the yacht pulled out unless I have to ,
Any other suggestion please .

 

[simonfraser]

It's wet now, so sealing it is pointless
As it's GRP leave it till the boat is out next, drying it out before repair, will take time.

 

[Mrnotming]

Hi Vic,
I suppose it depends on the length of time you can dry out for next haul.If seepage is extensive then the dry out period will need to be longer.Usually I diagnose the problem with a 6mm drill bit poked upwards from the damage, and observe what quantities come out!It is my experience that most rudders contain water somewhere, so If it were me I would carry on and not worry.If you could get some putty to stick on underwater, all the better.
I guess I would think it impractical also to unship the rudder, in case I lost any bits or bearings, and blocking up the gland opening might be a fright also!
If there is no stiffness in the steering as a result of the grounding so much the better?
Best Regards

 

[sailaboutvic]

No stiffness steering fine we just caught it the other day we was stern on to a quay , there was a bit of a swell and I didn't realise we was close to the bottom and we must of just touch , there was a grinding noise , I normally dip the depth if I think we close but so stupid I didn't this time , rudder is 2 mts so care is needed .
Keep thinking about getting advise from boat yard about getting a few ins taken off .

 

[charles_reed]

No stiffness steering fine we just caught it the other day we was stern on to a quay , there was a bit of a swell and I didn't realise we was close to the bottom and we must of just touch , there was a grinding noise , I normally dip the depth if I think we close but so stupid I didn't this time , rudder is 2 mts so care is needed .
Keep thinking about getting advise from boat yard about getting a few ins taken off .

Sorry to hear about the problem - one of the reasons I prefer going bows-to. I've found that even down to mat, theres virtually no water ingress (borrowed meter) and it dries perfectly after 4/5 months out. A lot depends on the construction of the blade, mine is timber core epoxy-carbon sheathed and with chopped strand/polyester with gel coat.
(I know the construction as it's a replacement for one that broke, provoking the only Mayday of my sailing career and attention from 3 lifeboats - the last of whom drank all my French presented bottles).
I've also found ordinary polyester gel pretty useless but expensive epoxy filler sticks and lasts.
Don't reduce rudder depth - even if you increase the area it's not effective to retain steerage..

 

[Tranona]

I have had little nicks like that on my rudder for exactly the same reasons. That area of the rudder will almost certainly be solid GRP so no likelihood of water getting into the foam core. Only negative possibility is that the joining seam of the two half mouldings has cracked, but unlikely if a small piece of the rudder came off.

 

[oldsaltoz]

Sad news indeed.
But I suspect not a huge problem, as already stated the chances that the lower section is solid glass would be correct.

You can speed up the drying time with a heat gun, just don't get too enthusiastic, the little point and read temperature guns are excellent and not too expensive.

Grind away the area about 50 mm (2 inches) each end of the damaged area along the leading and trailing edges to check for any cracking between the skins.

Only use epoxy based resins and cloth (not CSM/ chopped strand mat) to complete the repairs.

PS. I would no shorten the rudder either.


Good luck and fair winds.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Thanks every one for the advise , as a rule we reserve every where , is easier to step off the back then over the high bow , off-cause with a 2 mts rudder which is the same depth as the keel one always has to be a where and as a rule I keep a lead line handily on the stern . And at time we use the dinghy as a bridge to the wall to keep us further out ,.
everyone advise seen to match up with Dufour who I spoke to day , they seen to say that the bottom 10 Ins of so is made in such a way that you could demolish it and still have a workable rudder , I am not sure if I want to test that out , they also said there would be a lot of resin in the bottom so no need to worry and they would be surprise if I found any water damage when it did come out . It was suggested if I had any worry to drill a small hole and see if any water comes out , as some have already suggested on here . Regarding shorting the rudder , they said it has been know for people to shorted the rudder without any problem , and that the shallow keel model rudder is shorted then the keel ,
I decided to first put some underwater putty to stop any more entering it , it can't do any harm , and when it lifted out next winter sort it out then and at the same time add some extra resin to the bottom as a type of sacrificial strip . Or Maybe better still and old fender . In the mean time still got a few more weeks sailing before we enter a marina for winter so I stop worrying about it and enjoy the time we have left .
Again thanks every one .

 

[Mrnotming]

Hi Vic,

Wishing you good comfortable wintering!Just visited your website and read the Croatia experiences.Useful information, well collated.Thanks for the link!

 

[sailaboutvic]

Hi Vic,

Wishing you good comfortable wintering!Just visited your website and read the Croatia experiences.Useful information, well collated.Thanks for the link!

Your welcome paul , I hope ,it encourages other to give Croatia a go , we was very impressed by it , just remember if you need an marina or harbour to rest your head at nights make sure you got a good bank balance , I am surprise how many hits that site is still getting .