WHAT TIMBER?

[JIM_TEAL]

Ineed to make a new rudder blade for my Hunter Liberty.(The existing has developed longinitudinal splits.
Question; What is the best timber to use bearing in mind workability (I'll be doing the shaping) and durability for underwater on swinging mooring?
Jim J

 

[oldharry]

I used Iroko for my new rudder 3 years ago, recommended by the boatbuilder at my yard. So far so good.

 

[Lakesailor]

Iroko is a really easy wood to work. More so than mahogany or (horror) oak.

 

[tillergirl]

I have a 45 yr old iroko rudder. Seems to last!

 

[roly_voya]

Agree but be carful to select a straight grain bit as it suffers 'wild' grain which makes it impossible to work

 

[Bajansailor]

Assuming that the rudder blade is now reasonably dry, would it be feasible to fill the splits with epoxy putty, and then sheath the whole rudder with one layer of tight weave cloth and epoxy?
Or is it 'too far gone' for this to work?

 

[William_H]

Bajansailor has the right idea however I would suggest you plane the existing rudder down in thickness and add many layers of fibreglass.
ie at least 4mm thick so that you have fibreglass rudder with a wooden centre filler rather than a wooden rudden with fibreglass skin.

good luck olewill

 

[tillergirl]

Yes I agree. Generally I find timber merchants will do some selection if asked so Jim should bear this in mind.

 

[oldsaltoz]

I hate doing maintenance on timber, I know it looks beautiful but it cuts into time at sea and I avoid it on the exterior.

Depending on how often you want to work on the rudder I would advise as follows:

Remove rudder and dry completely.
Sand smooth and dig out any soft material and open up any cracks.
Fill and fair with closed cell balloons and epoxy resin.
Apply 2 layers of bidirectional 250 gram glass with epoxy resin.
sand and fill lows with more closed cell balloons and epoxy.
Apply 4 coats of resin.
Apply 2 coats of epoxy primer.
apply a coat of 2 pot polyurethane.
Have another look at it in ten years.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[sparkie]

Hello Jim, have you tried posting on the HLMOA forum, there has been a lot of interest recently in all rudder related topics in the news sheet??

Sparkie

 

[JIM_TEAL]

Thanks for all your suggestions.
Regarding repair, its a pivoting blade within a timber stock. This is also showing signs of breaking up and the glassing options would almost certainly make the blade too wide for the stock anyway.
I propose to have an alloy stock with a new vertical lifting blade, thus my question about the best timber.
Thanks all anyway.

 

[sparkie]

Jim, I'm sure the editor of the HLMOA news sheet would be happy to have a few notes and photos when you have completed the project?? Other members would be very interested I'm sure.

Sparkie