Rudder Damage

[uforea]

My boat sits in a mud berth which has bits of stone in it and the rudder is getting damaged on the bottom edge. Will it be enough to put a couple layers of CSM on it or should I consider something more robust?

Ted

 

[mtb]

how about

trying to dig the stones out

cheers
Mick

 

[SAWDOC]

My boat sits in a mud berth which has bits of stone in it and the rudder is getting damaged on the bottom edge. Will it be enough to put a couple layers of CSM on it or should I consider something more robust?

Ted

Any surface repair to your rudder needs to be smooth and streamlined in order to minimise turbulent flow. Is your rudder as deep as your keel? I'm surprised it is not protected by your keel.

 

[cimo]

My boat sits in a mud berth which has bits of stone in it and the rudder is getting damaged on the bottom edge. Will it be enough to put a couple layers of CSM on it or should I consider something more robust?

Ted

hello Ted
the extent of the damage will really determine the extent of the work I'd say. Is the rudder still waterproof? or has it taken in water & for how long? If your underwater profile permits, you could consider glassing in some sacrifical hardwood while your on the job? Any photos?
rgds
c

 

[Dan the man]

I have fixed many rudders with similar problems. I would grind back a determined area and put a sacrificial shoe on it using woven rovings, stronger and gives a nicer finish with minimal effort.

quite typical, Beneteau fit shoes on the rudders on their DI models.

The trick with woven rovings, I have found, is to wet the rudder in your case with resin, and lay the woven roving sheet on and it can then be molded round the rudder and just apply a little bit more resin, then repeat.
I wouldnt gel it, it will only chip off.
it doesnt need to be that smooth, really, unless you are hardcore racer.

 

[oldsaltoz]

The lower section of rudders is designed to be sacrificial, normally around 400 mm, If you try to add something like hardwood or other non yielding material you run the risk of the rudder breaking just above the reinforcement.

A simple mix of epoxy resin and Micro-fibres will be very hard wearing, as epoxy is much harder than standard resins.

You could use peel ply or heavy plastic to hold in place and avoid sanding to shape, this mix is hard to sand.

Hope this helps.

.

 

[rob2]

This may be overkill, but white water canoists epoxy a strip of kevlar to the stem to prevent abrasion. Canoe shops sell kits for this, but be warned, the stuff is very difficult to cut and work!

Rob.