Skeg Repair

[Stemar]

I am in the process of replacing the bottom bearing of my rudder shaft. The original is a nylon bush glassed into the bottom of the skeg, so the "official" repair procedure starts with an angle grinder and goes downhill from there. The recommended attachment for the new bearing is a bronze bracket bolted to the skeg.

I can get a bracket made in A4 Stainless easily, but I don't know anyone who could make one up in bronze. If a stainless bracket is well sealed to the skeg with several coats of epoxy, is crevice corrosion likely to be a problem?

I was thinking of drilling the skeg, which is solid at the bottom and epoxying some A4 tube into it to keep water out. Is this a good idea, or not?

Finally, should I remove the gelcoat where the bracket will go or bolt it straight on?

I don't want to ecapsualate the whole thing as I may need to get it off in the future!

 

[hollandd]

see previous thread on snapdragon bottom rudder fitting, may be of some help

pm me if prob

 

[Tradewinds]

These people do bronze work to order Classic Marine .

 

[srp]

Classic Marine made the bottom rudder fitting for my last boat - I made a pattern and sent it to them. If you're going to glass anything in place you'll need to gring back to the laminate, and you should seal it all up with epoxy afterwards. Can't you epoxy a bronze bush in place instead of using A4?

 

[Bajansailor]

Forumite L'Escargot Mark has (I think) replaced the bottom rudder bearing on his Snappy 747 - I am sure that he would be an encyclopaedia of info re what to do (and not do!).

 

[oldsaltoz]

[ QUOTE ]
I am in the process of replacing the bottom bearing of my rudder shaft. I was thinking of drilling the skeg, which is solid at the bottom and epoxying some A4 tube into it to keep water out. Is this a good idea, or not?


[/ QUOTE ]

Not a great idea, just drill your holes 10 to 15 mm oversize, fill with epoxy and Micro Fires, then after curing re drill to the required size.

Avagoodweekend......