[Public-List] Bent Rudder

[Robert Alley]

I have #219, which is built precisely as #220. I'm having a bit of 
trouble comprehending what you mean by bent rudder. If you mean that the 
rudder post/stock is bent, then straightening it is a matter of taking 
it to a welder/blacksmith, perhaps after removing the rudder itself, 
depending on the placement of the bend. Large pieces of bronze are not 
easily worked with the tools available to the average person.

If you mean by bent that the rudder itself is no longer properly aligned 
with the rudder post/stock, straightening might be a simple matter of 
removing the rudder--by sliding it off the long bronze 
bolts--straightening the bolts, and then replacing the rudder. The 
reason that your weight did not solve your problem is that the metal has 
a memory, and, supported by the rudder structure around it, was not 
adequately bent into its "new" shape. A straightening bend needs to be 
applied, presumably, immediately adjacent the hole in the rudder post 
through which the long bronze bolt exits.  It may be that you might need 
to replace the bolts, or fill and re-tap the holes (or both) depending 
on the nature of the "bend."

Rob Alley
219

On 3/13/2011 9:26 AM, Michael Grosh wrote:
> I have #220, so our boats are in the same age/production neighborhood.
> the leading edge of the rudder is a 1" bronze shaft, in two pieces. the top
> piece becomes the rudder post. I am thinking your problem is not there,
> otherwise the tiller would not swing free. the bottom piece is about 12"
> long and is what the bottom shoe is pinned to. I am thinking that piece
> could be trued up by rebedding in fiberglass. It has two long bolts running
> through the length of the rudder.
> It is difficult for me to imagine forces that could warp the rudder itself
> without shattering it, but crazy things happen all the time.
>
> Good luck
> Michael
> #220
>
> On Sat, Mar 12, 2011 at 9:54 PM, Michael Taylor<m_tayau at yahoo.com.au>wrote:
>
>> Hi Everyone,
>>
>> I am having problems aligning the rudder on #231.  Having had several
>> attempts at positioning the rudder post, gudgeon/pintles and lower pin
>> relative to each other, I have been unable to mount the rudder so that it
>> swings freely.
>>
>> There is a slight bend in the rudder blade which I assumed would straighten
>> as the rudder turned however the bend is placing too big a load on the
>> gudgeon and pintles.  I know now I have to take out the rudder blade bend.
>>
>> In the summer I attempted to straighten it by sitting a 200lb dead weigtht
>> in the centre of the blade whilst supporting the ends.  After a few days I
>> took the weight off only to have the blade bounce right back to its original
>> bent position.  I attempted this a couple more times but again with no luck.
>>
>> I am wondering whether anyone has any ideas on a better method for
>> straightening.  Perhaps put a bend into the blade on the opposite direction
>> and glass the outside of the bend so that the new glass is under tension on
>> straightening.  Anyway clutching at straws here as I'm starting to think I
>> may be needing a new rudder.
>>
>> Suggestions anyone?
>>
>> Many thanks
>>
>> Mick
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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