Skeg movement

[Neil]

I've had my Sadler 25 for 6 years now and each year when I take it out for antifouling, I paint over a crack between the keg and hull. I can't see any movement unless there is a bead of water in the crack and then I can see the meniscus bulge a little if I push on the skeg. It's gotten no worse over the years. I'm taking it out of the water this winter because the hull needs a good scrape before I put on more antifoul. While I was at it, I thought to do something about the crack. My thoughts were to cut a deepish 'v' groove along the crack and pack it with something. What would be better than filler? Would it be better to line the 'v' with some fibreglass mat first? I'd rather not hear about having to expose the embedded keg bolts.......

 

[lw395]

I don't think you will achieve anything. The bolts will still be corroding the same way as they are or are not now, so it's really a matter of deciding whether it's all amply strong or needs taking to bits.
Possibly the bolts themselves are bedded in mastic of some sort and the crack does not reach them, so the problem is just cosmetic.
If you 'paper over the crack' with grp, either it needs to be strong enough to hold the crack together under load, or it may do more harm than good.
Consider v-ing the crack to a very shallow depth and filling with low modulus sealant.
But if there's no sign of rust in the water, I'd probably not bother.

 

[coopec]

Others have had this problem apparently.

Rudder movement - Sadler & Starlight
https://sadlerandstarlight.co.uk/forums/topic/rudder-movement/

Nov 23, 2010 - 3 posts - ‎1 author
There's a fair bit of play particularly where it meets the skeg, but to a ... 25/11/2010 at 00:00 #128343 ... I hadn't noticed the skeg movement until late on last Sunday when making some notes on work to be done this winter.
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[Praxinoscope]

Am I wrong on this, I know the skeg on the S29 is bolted on but I always thought that the skeg on the S 25 was part of the moulding and not bolted?

 

[Neil]

Am I wrong on this, I know the skeg on the S29 is bolted on but I always thought that the skeg on the S 25 was part of the moulding and not bolted?

There seems to be a large rounded lump on the stern floor which I'm guessing is a bolt covered in fibre glass?

 

[Praxinoscope]

There seems to be a large rounded lump on the stern floor which I'm guessing is a bolt covered in fibre glass?

Yup if it looks lik anencapsulated bolt it probably is.