Rudder repair

Niander

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Hi i have a partial crack in my wooden rudder so i wanna splice a plate on both sides over the crack and through bolted

its under the water line...sea water...would aluminium plate be ok?[possibly painted]...as its what i have to hand....?
 

fluffc

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[ QUOTE ]
Hi i have a partial crack in my wooden rudder so i wanna splice a plate on both sides over the crack and through bolted

its under the water line...sea water...would aluminium plate be ok?[possibly painted]...as its what i have to hand....?

[/ QUOTE ]

Aluminium plate will be fine if you have aluminium bolts /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

So, no, in reality you need a piece of steel plate with steel bolts.

The second question is what construction is your rudder.

If it is made of vertical planks of wood, these are usually bolted together across ways from one side of the rudder to the other. The bolt heads are within the wood with a plug behind them. If this is the case, then the appearance of small vertical cracks isn't an immediate concern.
 

simonfraser

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you wana find out why the crack, if the rudderstock has corrosion it may be forcing the wood apart, not good news & you'll need to do more than a cosmetic repair
 

Niander

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I don't like steel as it rusts obviously...mind you stainless would be nice!

there is no stock underneath ill use the aluminium give it lots of paint first...
and itl all be sealed with antifoul after.

cheers
 

VicS

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Steel plates with small anodes bolted to them.

316 stainless would be better.

If you do use aluminium prime with a suitable primer, eg zinc chromate, and paint over with a decent paint. Heaven knows what fasteners to use!
Maybe bed it on Dralac paste.

Don't rely on the A/F to seal it, it won't, and don't use a copper based A/F.
 
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