[Public-List] Rudder repairs, wood strip

[Randy Katz]

Greetings, All,
Wanted to add that I also had a strip or two of the wood in the face
     of the rudder (port). I pulled it out and puzzled over it becuase
     there was seepage at haul-out time, didn't know where/why water
     was coming out (only small amounts).
I ended up filling the void with epoxy-- no problems since then, a few
    years back. I am really curious as to why the wood was there. It
    was neatly laid in. I wondered if it were there in order to
    achieve some sort of fine balance for the rudder or in order to
    make an easy attachment point (why? for what?).

    THanks for the photos and other specifics about the rudder.

   Regards,
Randy katz
#249-- 1967
Seattle/ Bellingham, WA.


On Jul 16, 2008 09:14 AM, public-list-request at lists.alberg30.org
wrote:

> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:29:45 -0400
> From: laserandy at aol.com
> Subject: Re: [Public-List] Rudder Repairs (yes, another thread,
> 	possibly another ruder variation)
> To: public-list at lists.alberg30.org
> Message-ID: <8CAB556C33B8311-F2C-3315 at FWM-M35.sysops.aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> 
> 
> 
>  Rachel,
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> I should have mentioned, our boat is # 152, a bit, but not much,
> earlier than yours.? Sounds like our rudders are nearly identical.?
> George just posted the photos I took last night with my camera phone
> at
> http://alberg30.org/maintenance/Steering/RudderVarieties/Andante152Rudder.html
> (thanks George).
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Fortunately for us we didn't have to grind off any of the overlaid
> glass, it just fell off in big chunks with the aid of a chisel and
> paint scraper revealing nice solid gelcoat (we didn't even get all
> that dirty).? I have to wonder how long
> the rudder went around supporting the loose sheathe of extra
> glass...
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> I banged a bit on the rudder with the butt of the chisel I was
> using,
> it sounds and feels extremely solid.? My only points of minor
> concern
> are that the straps are weeping a bit (appears to be water either in
> or
> around the fairing compound, you can see it in the first and second
> photos), and the top section of the rudder post is
> external to the rudder and I'm concerned with water intrusion behind
> the post, perhaps where the 'skeleton' penetrates the blade
> (although
> I probably shouldn't be since it's been that way submerged for who?
> knows how long).? Like yours, the straps under the Bondo look brand
> new
> where I dug it out.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Also, like you, I hate to do something that's going to make it
> harder
> to repair in the future.? Everything feels so solid that I'm almost
> tempted to dig out the bondo and re-fair it with something that will
> stick well, but be easy to remove next time it needs it (more
> Bondo?),
> perhaps leave the mahogany but shave it down to solid dry wood and
> fair
> it with the same stuff (or dig it out and replace it with some
> teak),
> fair the top part of the rudder post into the blade with
> microballoon
> thickened epoxy to make the boat faster and keep the water out
> (although I'll probably only be trapping what's in there in), and
> then
> have the yard paint it with the rest of the bottom later this week.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> I want to do the work right, but at the same time I don't want to
> spend
> time and money to fix something that isn't really broken,
> potentially
> making it worse.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Andrew
> 
> 
> Andante - 152
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> I would like to see the photos of yours, particularly those from
> after removal of some of the fairing and the wood.?
> 
> 
>